Today at noon EST, the U.S. Mint releases the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medal, celebrating the 19th President of the United States. Each medal is struck from 1 ounce of .999 fine silver and has a diameter of 1.598 inches.
Rutherford B. Hayes had a varied legal, military, and political career. He attended Harvard Law School, beginning in 1843. After graduating, he opened his own practice and eventually became well-known for providing legal defense for escaped slaves in court cases. In 1858, he became the city solicitor of Cincinnati. However, with the onset of the American Civil War, he was appointed an officer in the Union Army, where he earned a reputation for bravery.
Hayes refused to leave the Army to campaign for political office but still won a position in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1865 to 1867. He went on to become the Governor of Ohio from 1868 to 1872. He returned to Congress from 1876 to 1877 before becoming the 19th U.S. President on March 4, 1877, following a contested race.
U.S. Mint Presidential Medal Programs
Presidential medals date back to the earliest days of the nation, when many were struck and given as "Peace Medals" to Native American tribes.
The U.S. Mint’s series of Presidential Silver Medals pays homage to the original Peace Medals, with the first one issued in 2018. The program has seen the following releases and sales:
- George Washington – 35,161
- John Adams – 23,668
- Thomas Jefferson – 24,260
- James Madison – 16,922
- James Monroe – 15,294
- John Quincy Adams – 14,825
- Andrew Jackson – 16,675
- Martin Van Buren – 13,750
- William Henry Harrison – 13,588
- John Tyler – 13,654
- James K. Polk – 13,249
- Zachary Taylor – 13,018
- Millard Fillmore – 12,635
- Franklin Pierce – 12,503
- James Buchanan – 12,246
- Abraham Lincoln – 18,623
- Andrew Johnson – 12,356
- Ulysses S. Grant – 13,079
Medals honoring James Garfield, Chester Arthur and Grover Cleveland are scheduled to appear later this year.
Medal Designs and Specifications
A left-facing portrait of Rutherford B. Hayes graces the obverse (heads side) of each new silver medal, flanked on the sides by the inscription "RUTHERFORD B. HAYES."
The reverse (tails side) features a laurel wreath along with the inscriptions "PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES" and "INAUGURATED MARCH 5. 1877."
Sculptor George T. Morgan designed both the obverse and reverse designs.
Presidential Silver Medal Specifications
Presidential silver medals have a matte finish, which gives them an appearance similar to that of an uncirculated coin. Additional medal specifications are as follows:
| Denomination: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Finish: | Matte |
| Composition: | 99.9% Silver |
| Silver Weight: | 1.000 troy oz. |
| Diameter: | 1.598 in. |
| Edge: | Plain |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | N/A |
| Privy Mark: | None |
| Design: | Designer: William and Charles Barber |
| Struck Under Authority of: | 31 U.S.C. § 5111(a)(2) |
Ordering and Price
Priced at $75, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medals are available for purchase directly from the U.S. Mint’s catalog for silver medals, without any mintage or household order limits.
