2017-06-05 Mon

The United States Mint did not mark the centennial of President Kennedy’s birth but two people were so passionate about American coin design that they volunteered to mark the event.

Gary Marks, former Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee chairman, and Heidi Wastweet, current CCAC member and artist partnered to issue a 1-ounce silver medal depicting the slain president on his birth anniversary.

Just before the anniversary, Marks found out that there’ll be no tribute given to President Kennedy in the numismatic community. Hence, he along with Heidi Wastweet came together to make the medal.

The obverse of the medal showcases the face of the president, set against an empty profile of the man. It symbolises that the man was gone too soon.

Inscriptions read JOHN F. KENNEDY / BIRTH CENTENNIAL / 1917–2017.

On the reverse, an outlined eagle is featured and part of Kennedy’s famous quotes ““We shall pay any price to ensure the survival and success of liberty.”

Inscriptions on the reverse also note the medal’s weight and metal.

Marks believed that JFK was a great American leader and his belief is what made him. He also added that there was a reason to why he wanted to mint the coin as he wanted to showcase the president’s leadership quality.

The black regions shown on images of the medal are the polished Proof areas. The white regions show frosted areas.

The mintage limit of the medal is 1000 pieces and was still available until 2nd June. Some 100 pieces were sold but the delivery of remaining medals was expected to begin in the second week of June.

Marks is an avid artist, he spearheaded a design contest for a commemorative medal when he served in Ketchum, Idaho.

On the other hand, Wastweet is an accomplished artist who has sculptured more than 1,000 coins, medals, tokens and rare coin replicas since 1987. She was serving as vice president of the American Medallic Sculpture Association. Wastweet is also a member of the National Sculpture Society and other national and international arts organisations.

There are many reasons why President Kennedy is remembered even today. He had achieved many things in his short span of life. He navigated the world away from a nuclear holocaust during the Cuban Missile Crisis and for setting NASA on the path of manned missions to the moon.

He is honoured with an abundance of numismatic items. Many of these items are chronicled in The Kennedy World in Medallic Art, written by William R. Rice and published by Whitman Publishing.