The difference between official inaugural and presidential medals.

On Janury 20, 2025, we will inaugurate a new president. The numismatic part of the ceremoney will be an addition to a series of official presidential inaugural medals which officially date from 1889. These pieces are sanctioned by the Inauguration Committee and are sold as a fundraiser to cover the expenses of the celebration.

The Philadelphia Mint will also produce a presidential medal for the new chief executive. These pieces often mention the date the president took office and perhaps some other facts.

Official inaugural medals are always worth more as collectors' items than the presidential medals. Part of the reason is the availibility. Inaugural medals are issued during the inauguration peroid. Once that is over, no more are produced.

Presidential medals are sold for years after the president takes office, sometimes for many years after the president left office. Therefore they are available for an extended period.

Here are a couple of examples. This an official inaugural medal for George H. W. Bush who served from 1989 to 1993.



Unfortunately I don't have a full size example of a recent presidential medal. Here is a piece that was issued in the late 19th century for Benjamin Harrison who served from 1889 to 1893. Note that the date he was inaugurated president is on the reverse.



Both types of medals are collectors' items. The difference is the the official inaugural medals are usually scarcer and more popular. Therefore they command higher prices.

 

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Another difference is the Inaugural medals are produced privately, they are not struck at the US Mint.