2006 Bronze Medal Dalai Lama

Coin Details

Description

This bronze medal honors His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006 in recognition of his contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress, and its award to the Dalai Lama reflected both his personal moral authority and America's support for the Tibetan cause. The medal's authorization required passage by both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The obverse features a portrait of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism who has lived in exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following the Chinese occupation. His advocacy for Tibetan autonomy through exclusively peaceful means, combined with his broader message of compassion and interfaith dialogue, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and made him one of the most recognized moral voices in the world. The Congressional Gold Medal recognized these contributions while implicitly affirming American support for human rights and religious freedom in Tibet. The reverse carries inscriptions appropriate to the Congressional Gold Medal program. The Dalai Lama's medal was presented in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in October 2007, attended by President Bush and congressional leaders. The bronze version made the tribute accessible to collectors and supporters, while the gold presentation medal was given directly to the Dalai Lama. China formally protested the award, calling it interference in internal affairs, but the bipartisan congressional support for the medal reflected broad American sympathy for the Tibetan cause.

Rarity Notes

Bronze Congressional Gold Medal duplicate. Authorized by Congress in 2006, presented 2007. Available from the U.S. Mint.

Cross References

PCGS #391537; Congressional Gold Medal; 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso; Nobel Peace Prize 1989