official Presidential inaugural medal by Julian Hoke Harris, minted by The Franklin Mint, one of four produced in this oversized (70 mm diameter) format, weight 466 grams (over 14 oz. T. actual gold), edge marked 24kt (XRF tests closer to 23kt, a second analysis read 98.6% fineness), serial numbered "1", presented to President Carter by the Inaugural Committee; with original box

Provenance: The Estate of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

Note: The Franklin Mint commissioned a Georgian, Julian H. Harris, to produce the obverse design of the medal. An initial draft featured the President's full name: James Earl Carter. In the end, the committee preferred the more universally known, "Jimmy."

The artist had considered showing the President with a wide, toothy smile. Ultimately, deciding instead to portray Carter deep in thought. Harris did not design the reverse of the medal, that was done by staff at the Franklin Mint.

A census of four medals in this size and composition follows: serial #1 produced for The President and offered here, along with three others for Vice President Walter Mondale (serial #2), Inaugural Committee Chair Vicki Rogers, and Inaugural Committee Chair Bardyl R. Tirana.

One of the original four minted reposes in the Smithsonian, a gift of James F. Dicke, who was himself a collector of Presidential inaugural medals. It is unclear which serial number is represented by the Dicke/Smithsonian example.