NEW BOOK: OFFICIAL INAUGURAL MEDALS AND RIBBONS

Jimmy Hayes, general counsel for the National Coin & Bullion Association (NCBA), has announced that 100 percent of the profits from sales of his forthcoming three-volume reference series, Each New Beginning: An Illustrated History of Official Inaugural Medals and Ribbons, will be donated to NCBA in support of its mission to advocate on behalf of the numismatic and precious-metals bullion community.

Planned for publication in the first quarter of 2026, Each New Beginning is a comprehensive, richly illustrated history of US presidential inaugurations, as told through the medals, ribbons, and documents created to commemorate them. The set will be offered at $375 plus shipping, with all profits designated as a philanthropic gift to NCBA.

The project's origins are rooted in Hayes's belief that numismatic objects deserve to be presented with the political and human stories they were meant to preserve. As he writes in the dedication, the goal was to move beyond merely cataloging designs to reveal "the marriage between politics, medals, and ribbons associated with the Presidential Inaugurations," preserving stories that might otherwise be lost to time.

The reference series spans three volumes and 760 pages, with a planned initial printing of 200 hardcover copies, including a limited number of leather-bound editions. As first reported by Coin World in its March 31, 2025, article, "Inspiring Inaugural Medal Collection," the series draws upon what many consider one of the most complete collections of official presidential inaugural and related medals ever assembled.

Among the highlights are

• More than 1,500 high-quality images,
• Over 30 previously unlisted or unique medals—some with no prior auction appearances,
• Approximately 20 unique inaugural ribbons,
• Dozens of historical documents never before published, and
• Newly recorded stories drawn from archival research and firsthand accounts.

The volumes are organized as follows:

• Volume I (1789–1885): Ribbons and medals predating the issuance of official inaugural medals.
• Volume II: The 1889 Washington Centennial Celebration, the first national holiday and the genesis of the official inaugural medal and badge tradition.
• Volume III (1889–2001): Official medals and ribbons from the Harrison inauguration through the dawn of the 21st century.

A proof set of the books will be available for public viewing at the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Convention, January 8–9, 2026 (Thursday and Friday), at the NCBA booth, #1202. A small display of inaugural medals, along with ribbons and original documents will accompany the proofs, and author Jimmy Hayes will be available to meet with attendees.

Hayes hopes the series will both enrich numismatic and historical scholarship and provide lasting support to NCBA through this philanthropic commitment.

Image: The 1889 Official Inaugural Medal—held by the Benjamin Harrison family for more than 125 years and acquired directly from a descendant. For decades, historians debated whether the 1889 ribbon badges identifying inaugural committees were produced under official authorization. Each New Beginning definitively resolves the question, including reproduction of the manufacturer's patent application, bringing clarity at last to this long-standing controversy.

The National Coin & Bullion Association (NCBA) is the leading industry trade group dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of coin and bullion dealers, collectors, and investors. Founded in 1983, NCBA provides education, advocacy, and support for the numismatic community nationwide.

To learn more about the National Coin & Bullion Association, please visit https://www.ncbassoc.org/.

 

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