Shelby Le Duc, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 5:23 p.m. CT Jan. 18, 2017
GREEN BAY – When it came to a Green Bay minting company, President-elect Donald Trump said, “You’re hired.”
Trump selected Medalcraft Mint Inc.’s design for the 24-carat gold inaugural medallion, which will be presented to him in a private meeting Friday on Inauguration Day.
Jerry Moran, owner of Medalcraft Mint since 2007, said the design was one of five he submitted to Trump’s team after the election.
On the front, the winning design features a portrait of Trump with the White House in the background. On the back is the presidential seal displaying the inauguration date.
The company learned it has been selected late Wednesday and almost immediately began producing medallions for the inaugural ball and for distribution to campaign donors.
Medalcraft Mint, established in 1948, is no stranger to these kinds of high-profile events. The company also designed and produced inaugural medals for President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, and has made medallions for the NFL’s Pro Bowl as well.
Moran said he and his staff had also designed potential medallions for Hillary Clinton in advance of the election.
In a sign of the contentiousness of the election, he said a few artists approached him offering to sculpt Clinton’s medal portrait but decided not to get involved after Trump won.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Moran said. “We just made a few other calls and we found someone happy to do it.”
Moran said the company’s superior capabilities and quality of engraving and finishing set it apart from the competition.
“The hardest part about something like this trying to find your angle to get your design in front of the president, who will make that choice (about) a small part of a historic tradition that goes back to George Washington,” he said.
He said his company’s advantage was the Republican National Committee which, after considering the business’ reputation, sought out Medalcraft and encouraged the company to submit designs.
Medalcraft Mint will make up to 10,000 of the medallions for purchase, mainly in bronze.
