Jack Nicklaus Bronze Medal

During a ceremony held yesterday at the US Capitol Rotunda, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to world-renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus. The medal was authorized to be awarded under Public Law 113-210 in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence, good sportsmanship, and philanthropy.

The United States Mint had previously prepared five different obverse and four different reverse design candidates for the medal, which were reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. Image of all of the candidates can be found here. The final designs selected under the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury are shown below.

obverse

The obverse design of the medal features a portrait of Jack Nicklaus, his signature, and the inscriptions “120 Professional Victories” and “18 Major Championships”. The obverse was designed and sculpted by Don Everhart.

reverse

The reverse features a pair of laurel leaves and arrangement of six stars, representing his five children and his wife Barbara. An inscription at the  center reads “Excellence in sport, promoting integrity and sportsmanship, and dedication to philanthropy and children’s healthcare, with a lifelong commitment to family” and “Act of Congress 2014”. The reverse was designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.

These final designs matched the recommendations offered by the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

The United States Mint has made bronze duplicate versions of the Jack Nicklaus Congressional Gold Medal available for sale. A 3-inch version of the medal is priced at $39.95 and a 1.5-inch version of the medal is priced at $6.95. Both medals are struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

The Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to seven professional athletes. This category has been disproportionately represented by golfers. The recipients have included boxer Joe Louis, track and field Olympic champion Jesse Owens, two baseball players Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson, and three golfers Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus.

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Comments

  1. says

    Isn’t the medal a personal thing? Unless you are an immediate family member or a former Nicholson groupie, why would one be inclined to purchase this facsimile medal?

  2. A Bob says

    putting a signature a coin or medal is a tired tired trend. ..Unless you are a John Hancock comment.

  3. JBK says

    Being awarded a Congressional Gold Medal is a huge honor, and the laws authorizing them have always included a provision to sell bronze copies to the general public. I can imagine that if this was not done, lots of people would complain that they were not able to obtain a copy. (One notable exception was the Frank Sinatra medal – there was some sort of claim of copyright infringement by a photographer over the image used, so no bronze copies were ever struck.)

    Some of the designs are fantastic, some passable, and some horrendous, but they are what they are. If you like it, buy one, if not, just move along. Most of these are not investments, they are keepsakes. There are more than a few that I wish I had gotten years ago that are no longer made.

    In the case of the Nicklaus medal, I am sure that more than a few golfers will be getting the small version to use as ball markers.

  4. Pool Shark says

    JBK,

    Good point.

    To date, I’ve been using a Silver Eagle as a ball marker; great conversation starter.

    I might have to take a look at Jack’s medal to see if it would make a good marker….

  5. thePhelps says

    I’ve used a Walking Liberty half as a ball marker for years. If I still golfed more than a couple of times a year – I’d consider one of these…

  6. Dustyroads says

    fm~ I hate hearing about things like that. I have been broke and destitute so many times in my life just because I have been 100% faithful to paying my fair share. I really mean that, it’s not easy writing a check in the tens of thousands of dollars when you know you simply can’t afford it, but I don’t question it, I follow the law.

  7. Jerry Diekmann says

    Jack indeed might be a nice guy – married to the same woman, raised five kids, hits a ball straight and far down the fairway, etc. etc. etc. But does that really warrant him receiving a gold medal from Congress? Based on the inscription on the reverse, I would guess there are at least 5 million other men in the USA who would also warrant the same accolades. Maybe they don’t play golf (is that even a sport or a pasttime?) and maybe they’re not rich, but gimme a break – this country doesn’t need to be giving gold medals to guys in “sports” after they have made millions of dollars on the circuit, or whatever other game they’re playing. Talk abouut carrying coals to Newcastle!

  8. Sith says

    It just shows that the politicians spend more time on the golf course than in the Capital building

  9. Dustyroads says

    An exert from a 4/24 article on the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal:

    Since 1776, a diverse group of individuals has been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, including George Washington, Sir Winston Churchill, Bob Hope, Robert Frost, Joe Louis, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Recent recipients include Neil A. Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins, John Herschel Glenn, Jr., and Arnold Palmer.

    The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest awards bestowed on a United States civilian. Nicklaus was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. He and Arnold Palmer are the only golfers in history to receive both honors.

    ~ It’s important to remember that these medals are intended to recognize the achievements of any one of us.

  10. D Rittenhouse says

    @Jerry Diekmann,
    You think golf might not even be a sport? Then I guess you won’t be watching any of the golf matches which will be part of the upcoming summer Olympics in Brazil.

  11. A. bob says

    If I remember correctly, the Palmer medal did not have the inscription “By Act of Congress “. I found that odd.

  12. Jerry Diekmann says

    D Rittenhouse – golf is an Olympics sport? You have got to be kidding! What’s next – off road vehicles? Bungee jumping? No, I don’t think I will be watching much of the Olympics in Brazil next year. And thankfully the U.S. Mint has spared us with any more Olympics coins. After Atlanta, I think there have been enough Olympic coins to last the entire 21st century. Oh wait, maybe a new Olympics coin for golf!

  13. Ends in Error says

    Please God. Don’t ever allow Poker to become an Olympic ” Sport”.

    And ” Pole Dancing” , please don’t. …………… oh wait ! Maybe ……………

    😉

  14. says

    FYI:
    Ordered 2 of the much delayed/repackaged CY 2014 LESPS (US Mint Item# LS3) at approx.12:15P, Tues. 17 Mar 2015: Order# 03043XXX.

    Received same via USPS, Wed. 25 Mar 2015. Cost: $139.95 ea. + $4.95 S/H.

    At approx. 11P, Tues, 24 March 2015, saw on Cable TV ‘TCV’ program had same LS3 set for $199.00 ea. + S/H.

    Observation(s):
    Interesting that people would pay approx. 50% more for same product that is still available & cheaper from USM.

    I do not have an experienced ‘eye’ but the LS3 coins that I received from the USM, yesterday, appear to have abrasions. Maybe I am not using correct inspection methods?

    Semper Fi

  15. Sith says

    I gave up on the Olympics when they eliminated Greco wrestling, and included X Game “sports” like BMX biking, enough said.

  16. D Rittenhouse says

    Anyone else wonder how much gold is actually in the “gold medal” presented to the awardee? Is it a 3-inch diameter 24k gold medal? Or is it a gold plated 3-inch diameter bronze medal?

    To view a photograph of Jack’s medal taken last week, click here.

  17. Blair J. Tobler says

    D Rittenhouse – I don’t know size or weight, but I know it’s 90% gold content.

  18. fmtransmitter says

    @Silky, unless you open the lense and go through them one at a time with gloves and a halogen light, you won’t know for sure. That serran wrap they use to protect the plastic obscures the coins, we went through this last year..

  19. Mac says

    JBK and Dustyroads are on point with their remarks. The Congressional Research Service prepared an excellent summary re the process to authorize a CGM, and a history of the recipients. You can find it at http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid='0E%2C*PL%5B%3C%230%20%20 . I like the obverse of the Palmer medal, and the way the curvature of his arm and the curving edge of the medal align with each other. Regarding the quality of the recent designs, all in all, not bad. Considering the number of CGMs that have been issued in recent years, I think the output has been pretty creditable.

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