U.S. Mint Releases Benjamin Harrison Presidential Silver Medal

Today at noon ET, the United States Mint releases the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Silver Medal, honoring the 23rd U.S. president. Harrison served from March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1893.

This product for collectors continues the U.S. Mint’s Presidential Silver Medal series, launched in 2018. Struck from 1 troy ounce of 99.9% fine silver, it measures 1.598 inches in diameter.

Benjamin Harrison was born on August 20, 1833, and was a grandson of William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. president, and a great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison V, a Virginia planter who signed the Declaration of Independence. While his family was not wealthy, they prioritized education, dedicating a significant portion of their income to their children’s schooling. At 14, Harrison enrolled at Farmer’s College near Cincinnati, Ohio, before transferring to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated in 1852.

Admitted to the Ohio bar in 1854, Harrison began practicing law before entering politics, joining the Republican Party soon after its formation in 1856. The outbreak of the Civil War led him to serve in the Union Army, where he rose to the rank of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, a nomination made by President Abraham Lincoln.

After the war, Harrison made several unsuccessful bids for Indiana governor but held various political roles before being elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from March 4, 1881, to March 3, 1887. His growing national profile led to a successful presidential campaign, and he took office on March 4, 1889.

Harrison’s presidency was marked by a shift in economic policy, including the McKinley Tariff, which imposed historically high protective trade rates, and the Sherman Antitrust Act. His administration also oversaw federal spending surpassing one billion dollars for the first time. Additionally, Harrison is remembered for strengthening the U.S. Navy and establishing national forest reserves.

Harrison lost his re-election bid to Grover Cleveland, who had previously served as president before him.

U.S. Mint Presidential Medal Programs

Presidential medals, produced by the U.S. Mint, have a longstanding history tracing back to the inception of the nation, often bestowed as "Peace Medals" upon Native Americans. Modern versions have since been released with the following associated sales:

• George Washington – 35,973
• John Adams – 23,937
• Thomas Jefferson – 24,688
• James Madison – 17,186
• James Monroe – 15,514
• John Quincy Adams – 15,045
• Andrew Jackson – 16,930
• Martin Van Buren – 13,980
• William Henry Harrison – 13,852
• John Tyler – 13,861
• James K. Polk – 13,480
• Zachary Taylor – 13,240
• Millard Fillmore – 12,842
• Franklin Pierce – 12,740
• James Buchanan – 12,518
• Abraham Lincoln – 19,682
• Andrew Johnson – 12,737
• Ulysses S. Grant – 13,810
• Rutherford B. Hayes – 11,817
• James A. Garfield – 11,622
• Chester A. Arthur – 10,896
• Grover Cleveland – 10,916

Medals still to come in the series in 2025 will honor William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William H. Taft.

Medal Designs and Specifications

A portrait of Benjamin Harrison appears on the medal’s obverse (heads side), designed by U.S. Mint artist C.E. Barber, along with the inscription "BENJAMIN HARRISON."

The reverse (tails side), also designed by Barber, features the inscription "INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 4 1889" within a laurel wreath.

Medals in the series feature a matte finish, resembling the appearance of uncirculated coins. Additional specifications include:

Ordering and Price

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Silver Medals are available through the U.S. Mint’s catalog for silver medals. There are no mintage or household order limits, and pricing is set at $90.