U.S. Mint to Release Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medal

As part of its ongoing Presidential Silver Medal Series, the U.S. Mint will release for sale the Rutherford B. Hayes commemorative medal on February 13th, 2024. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States, serving one term (1877-1881). These medals are one troy ounce of 99.9% silver and are collector’s items and not a circulating currency. The front of the medal features a profile picture while the back is engraved with his inauguration date of March 5, 1877. The cost of the medal is $75.

Hayes Presidential Medal Front–U.S. Mint Image

Hayes Presidential Medal Back–U.S. Mint Image

Before the Civil War, Hayes was a prominent Cincinnati lawyer. In June of 1861, the governor of Ohio appointed Hayes as the major of the 23rd Ohio Infantry. His first action was at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry in September of 1861 in what is now West Virginia. Hayes was wounded at the Battle of South Mountain in Maryland in September of 1862. Hayes was promoted to Colonel and led a brigade at the Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain in southwest Virginia in May of 1864. Later that year, Hayes led his brigade in the Shenandoah Campaign, including the battles of Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. Hayes was promoted to Brigadier General and Brevet Major General during his service.

Hayes served in Congress as a U.S. Representative from Ohio; he also served as governor of that state. He was elected president in the contentious 1876 election. Hayes lost the popular vote to Democratic candidate Samuel Tilden, but neither Hayes nor Tilden had enough electoral votes to win the election and it was thrown into the House of Representatives. Through some back room wheeling and dealing, Hayes was awarded enough electoral votes to win after some concessions were made to the Democrats. The biggest concession was the removal of U.S. troops from the South, which for all intents and purposes, ended reconstruction. Hayes promised to serve just one term, and kept that promise.