Posted 10 years ago
DrDarryl
(1 item)
During his second term in office, President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented silver medals to deserving individuals in thankful recognition for service to our nation, the White House, or the Presidency. These appreciation medals were struck by the United States Mint and issued to the White House for President Eisenhower's use.
These appreciation medals have the distinction of being handed out by President Eisenhower himself or by his direction through military aides. This Presidential provenance limits availability to collectors as these medals are treated as presidential heirlooms by the original recipients' families.
From September 1958 through October 1960, the US Mint in Philadelphia was directed to strike seventeen different medals for use by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A total of 9,858 Dwight D. Eisenhower (D.D.E.) appreciation medals were struck. 1,451 medals were returned to the US Treasury and destroyed by mutilation near the end of the President's second term in office. Today, there are 8,247 are in the hand of the original recipients (or their heirs) and collectors. 160 medals are part of museum collections.
There are 3 classes of Dwight D. Eisenhower appreciation medals. The first class is the same size as the US silver half-dollar. The second class is the same size as a US Morgan or Peace silver dollar. The third class is the same size as the US Mint 1957 inauguration medal.
The US silver dollar size medal is the most interesting as it depicts a design of the location in which President Eisenhower traveled.
The first two images are of the US half-dollar size medal. The next two images are of the US silver dollar size medal.
