U.S. Mint Medals

About This Series

Representing the full breadth of the Mint's non-coinage production, official medals encompass Congressional Gold Medals (the nation's highest civilian honor), Presidential series medals featuring every chief executive, national commemorative medals, military campaign and service medals, and recognition pieces for government agencies. The Congressional Gold Medal tradition dates to the Revolution, when the Continental Congress honored George Washington and other leaders, continuing through modern awards to figures from Rosa Parks to the Dalai Lama. Presidential medals provide the longest-running series — a consistent portrait gallery across all administrations in bronze, silver, and gold. Produced at the Philadelphia Medal Division and West Point, medals are struck in bronze for broad distribution, .999 fine silver for collectors, and gold for formal Congressional presentations. The Mint's medal production represents an artistic tradition parallel to its coinage mission, employing larger formats, higher relief, and more elaborate compositions than circulating coins permit. The archive of medal dies constitutes an irreplaceable national artistic heritage.