Owner Comments:
Extremely Rare. First Reverse. 1 of only ~16 struck by the U.S. Mint.
Reddish Mahogany Proof. Provenance from The Springfield Collection, Lot 4164, Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Inc. Sale, Part II, December 17, 1981.
Obverse: Bust to right with legend GROVER CLEVELAND. Below truncation: C.E. BARBER F.
Reverse: INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 4. 1885 within a wreath of oak.
Size: 76 mm Engraver: Charles E. Barber
In 2005, RW Julian wrote "It appears that about 16 copper medals were struck from these (first term) dies for public sale prior to the new dies (for his second term) being prepared in 1893. It is not known how many were struck from the earlier dies after this time. The medals were placed on public sale in July 1885 but do not appear in the mint reports until fiscal year 1889-1890. The information was obtained from the National Archives, mostly Record Group 104, Philadelphia Mint, and the published annual reports of the Mint Bureau."
"The obverse portrait on this medal was based on profile photographs received at the mint in January, 1885, well before the inaugural in March. The first medal struck was sent to President Cleveland on June 19, 1885. Strangely enough, however, Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber notified Superintendent Daniel Fox on July 6, 1885, that the dies were then ready for striking; this might mean that some minor alteration in the design had taken place after Cleveland had been able to study his medal carefully. It was listed for public sale on July 9, 1885, at $2 in copper-bronzed." The Cleveland medals later sold to the public use a reverse that includes his second inauguration in 1893.