Bronze Medal (2025) First Coinage, Coin from United States - detailed information

The U.S. Mint’s bronze medals occupy a distinctive space in American exonumia, blending commemorative artistry with precious metal craftsmanship. Authorised under the Treasury’s authority to produce “list medals,” these works honour historical events, cultural milestones, and influential figures. While not legal tender, they serve as enduring tributes to national heritage, often featuring allegorical designs, iconic landmarks, or portraits of pivotal individuals. Their production adheres to the same standards as circulating coinage, often using archival engravings combined with modern minting techniques to ensure precision and aesthetic impact.

Official medals trace their roots to diplomatic necessities and national commemoration, predating the formal establishment of the U.S. Mint or even the United States as such. While the U.S. Mint was officially created by the Coinage Act of 1792, the earliest federal medals emerged from various diplomatic efforts, such as the 1782 Continental Congress peace medals-commissioned during the Confederation period to foster alliances with Native American tribes. Since the 1860s, commemorative and collector medals became popular, with the U.S. Mint now issuing a large variety in gold, silver and bronze.

Many of these medals are struck on coin blanks, and have the same specifications as existing contemporary coinage. Others are on formats used for medals only, which are categorised by the Mint by their diameter: the larger ones are "three-inch medals", and there is also a smaller format with nicely round size of one and five-sixteenths of an inch (1 5/16") diameter, such as this one.

This medal features a design which was used in 1971 at the U.S. Mint Exhibit at ANA Convention, and then in 1992 to commemorate the 200th anniversary (bicentenary) of the United States Mint’s establishment in 1792.

in 1992, the Mint held an internal contest among its employees to come up with the design. The winning entry for the medal's obverse came from Don Miller, a police officer at the Mint in Philadelphia - and it largely repeated the.1971 design The bicentennial medal was issued in bronze in 1992 and in silver in 1993 (marking 200 years since the first coinage issue of the United States).

This bronze medal is a re-issue of the 1971 medal. Its obverse displays a portrait of George Washington by Pierre Simon Duvivier, reused from 1789 Peace Medal and adapted by Frank Gasparro.