1925 Calvin Coolidge Inaugural Medal. By Darrell C. Crain (designer) and Julio Kilenyi (sculptor), struck by Medallic Art Co. Dusterberg CIM-B70, MacNeil CC-1925-3. Bronze. Mint State.

70 mm. This is a handsome specimen with subtle pale rose highlights to dominant light honey-bronze patina. The surfaces show a satiny texture from a fine-grain matte finish, with myriad tiny facets evident under close examination with a loupe. Sharply struck and free from any noteworthy blemishes, this is an original and undeniably attractive survivor from this elusive issue. While the classic 1905 Theodore Roosevelt inaugural medal designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens is certainly the most famous and popular medal of the series, it is by no means the rarest. Those who seek these historic medals know very well how challenging the Coolidge medal is. In fact, it is the second rarest of the entire 20th century series of bronze inaugural medals, following closely behind that issued for Warren G. Harding in 1921. Just 75 Coolidge medals were struck in bronze, along with two in silver and three in gold. This bronze mintage is 50 pieces fewer than were produced of the Roosevelt medal, although the nature of the Roosevelt presidency and his great popularity may have caused his medals to be better cared for by their owners. Coolidge did not enjoy such popularity and it is likely that a larger portion of his medals have been lost. Many years can pass between offerings of Coolidge inaugurals, though we have had the good fortune to be able to present five (!) of these rarities over the past eight years (including the present specimen). We last offered an example in our August 2021 ANA Auction, a piece of comparable quality to that offered here that realized $10,800. Prior to that, a medal certified Specimen-63 by PCGS brought $9,600 in our March 2020 Auction, and the example in our March 2016 Baltimore Auction brought $7,637 with a grade of Choice AU. Two years earlier, our March 2014 sale of the Charles A. Wharton Collection included a Choice Mint State example that earned $16,450. We are delighted to be offering the present example as a highlight of our current Baltimore Auction, and we expect that the most advanced collectors of this series will be paying careful attention. Housed in the original box from Pearson and Crain, the firm of the medal's designer Darrell C. Crain. On the top of the box is printed PEARSON & CRAIN / JEWELERS / 1829 F STREET N.W. / MAIN 8977 WASH. D.C. The box is well preserved with no noteworthy detractions. (Total: 1 medal; 1 box)

Estimate: $ 9000