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V21 2018 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 31, August 5, 2018, Article 11

1945 ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL SERIES MEDAL DESIGNER

Last week I asked about the designer of the obverse of the 1945 Franklin Roosevelt medal I chose for the NUMISMATIC NUGGETS article. Here's a recap of that discussion. -Editor

1945 Franklin Roosevelt Commemorative Medal obverse 1945 Franklin Roosevelt Commemorative Medal reverse

Description: 1945 Commemorative Medal To Honor President Roosevelt After He Died, the obverse reads For Country And Humanity ... Died April 12, 1945, In Memoriam, brass, 3 wide, 1/8 thick, crisp, hefty

1945 Franklin Roosevelt Commemorative Medal obverse JRG signature

The obverse is signed "J.R.G", and the reverse is signed SINNOCK. "SINNOCK" of course is U.S. Mint engraver John R. Sinnock. The 1945 Roosevelt Inaugural medal was done by Jo Davidson. So who is J.R.G.? -Editor

Joe Levine writes:

I agree that it looks like J.R.G. but I believe this "G" to be an awkward looking "S" This medal has always been ascribed (Both obverse and reverse) to Sinnock. Check with Bob Julian.

Dick Grinolds writes:

The Franklin Roosevelt commemorative medal you pictured in the last E-Sylum is actually the FDR medal from the Presidential Series struck and sold by the U.S. Mint. It is listed as Mint List No. 131 in the catalog "Medals Of The United States Mint Issued For Public Sale" published by The Department Of The Treasury. My copy has a 1969 date in the Foreward. The catalog details the U.S. Mint medals and lists the engraver(s) for each piece; it lists only John R. Sinnock as the artist for this medal.

I guess my first question would be "Are you sure that the initials are actually J.R.G.?" I don't have an example of the medal in stock currently to physically examine but the enlarged image on the auction page appears to me to be J.R.S. for John Ray Sinnock rather than J.R.G.

The long use of the Presidential series dies by the Mint as well as the relatively soft striking pressure can often cloud some of the smaller details. Dick Johnson can probably confirm that the obverse die is also a work by Sinnock.

Bob Julian writes:

The initials are clearly JRS. The S has the slight appearance of a G but is not. This time period is a little out of my area of interest but there is no question about the initials being JRS and standing for John Ray Sinnock.

So Sinnock it is! Thanks, everyone. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JULY 29, 2018 : 1945 Franklin Roosevelt Commemorative Medal (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n30a25.html)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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