Jimmy Carter Presidential Inaugural Medal

This gold medal is one of four of this size created to commemorate President Jimmy Carter's inauguration in 1977. Sculptor Julian Harris, who had previously modeled a portrait of Carter, worked from photographs to depict the chief executive. He gave Carter a pensive expression rather than his trademark toothy grin, because he wanted to show the president "thinking about something." Originally, the inaugural committee had asked Harris to feature Carter's full name—James Earl Carter Jr.—but eventually decided against it as everyone referred to the president by his nickname, Jimmy. (Neil MacNeil, The President's Medal, 1789-1977, 1977)