Quick Facts

1985 Ronald Reagan
Official Inaugural Medal

Designer:
Mico Kaufman (1924-????)

Medalist:
Medallic Art Company (MACO)
and
Franklin Mint (FM)

  * Dusterberg, Richard B.; The Official Inaugural Medals of the Presidents of the United States ; Cincinnati, Ohio; Medallion Press; 1971

** MacNeil, Neil; The President's Medal 1789 - 1977; New York, New York; Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. /Publisher in association with the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian; 1977

** Levine, H. Joseph; Collectors Guide * Presidential Inaugural Medals and Memorabilia; Danbury, Connecticut; Johnson & Jensen; 1981

** Note: Dusterberg's book published in 1971 ended with the 1969 Nixon Inaugural Medal, MacNeil's book with the 1977 Jimmy Carter medal, and Levine's book with the 1981 Reagan medal. In his book Levine choose to merge the two numbering systems on the 1981 Reagan medal, however here we will continue the traditional Dusterberg and MacNeil numbers.

Commentary

Ronald Reagan
Fortieth President of the United States

Related Inaugural Items

Ronald Reagan
Fortieth President of the United States

The Official Inaugural Day Medallic / Postal Commemorative Silver Proof Mintage: ???

The Medallic Postal Commemorative (MPC) produced by the Franklin Mint consists of a small (26mm (just over 1 inch)) official inaugural 999 silver medal struck in coin-relief with a proof finish and three small postal covers in a 5-1/2 inch by 7-1/2 inch (measured in the closed position) protective album. The covers all feature a U.S. 13 cent stamp (Scotts # 1618, Liberty Bell, Coil Stamps, Perf. 10 Vertically) cancelled January 20th, 1985 in three different locations. The first was cancelled in Washington, D.C. the site of the inauguration, the second in Tampico, Illinois birthplace of Presidnt Ronald Reagan, and the third in Milton, Massachusetts birthplace of Vice-President George Bush.

Bronze Process Set Number 20 of 50 Eight 70mm (2.75 inch) Uni-face Medals Mounted on a 10 inch by 15 inch Walnut Plaque Sets Produced: 50

Pretenders

Ronald Reagan
Fortieth President of the United States

There are many individual medals and presidential medal series, which are quite well done and very collectable in their own right, that are often mistaken for or misattributed as "official" inaugural medals. This phenomenon can be seen readily in the descriptions of many of these medals when they appear in online auctions. The official medal, illustrated above, should match the auction item exactly before warranting a bid at official medal prices. Great, now we know the lot is misattributed but what is it? This section will illustrate some of these medals to help new collectors distinguish between the "official" and "unofficial" and to introduce all collectors to these interesting medals. Hopefully, some will be spared the expensive lessons I have seen so many unaware collectors make in online auctions and others will be inspired to expand their collecting interests to include these medals.

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United States Mint Presidential Series Stock Medal # 142 3 inch (76mm) "High-Relief" Bronze Designer (Obverse/Reverse): Other Sizes Struck: Stock Medal # 742 1-5/16 inch "coin-relief" bronze Interesting Notes: Pretender Identification Tip:

Select Another "United States Mint Presidential Series" Medal to view U.S. Mint Series - William McKinley, Memorial Reverse U.S. Mint Series - Theodore Roosevelt, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Theodore Roosevelt, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - William Howard Taft U.S. Mint Series - Woodrow Wilson, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Woodrow Wilson, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Warren G. Harding, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Warren G. Harding, Memorial Reverse U.S. Mint Series - Calvin Coolidge, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Calvin Coolidge, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Herbert Hoover U.S. Mint Series - Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Third Term U.S. Mint Series - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fourth Term U.S. Mint Series - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Memorial Reverse 1U.S. Mint Series - Harry S. Truman, First Term 1U.S. Mint Series - Harry S. Truman, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Dwight D. Eisenhower, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Dwight D. Eisenhower, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - John F. Kennedy U.S. Mint Series - Lyndon B. Johnson, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Lyndon B. Johnson, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Richard M. Nixon, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Richard M. Nixon, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - Gerald R. Ford U.S. Mint Series - Jimmy Carter U.S. Mint Series - Ronald Reagan, First Term U.S. Mint Series - Ronald Reagan, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - George Bush U.S. Mint Series - William Jefferson Clinton, First Term U.S. Mint Series - William Jefferson Clinton, Second Term U.S. Mint Series - George W. Bush

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Issue Specific Bibliography

1985 Ronald Reagan Inaugural

•  --------- ; Reagan's Second Inauguration Commemorated; The Numismatist, American Numismatic Association, Colorado Springs, CO; Volume 98 Number 2, 1985, February, page 274
• Reiter, Ed; Reagan Inaugural Medal Features Innovative Design; The Numismatist, American Numismatic Association, Colorado Springs, CO; Volume 98 Number 2, 1985, February, page 270; illus.