Controversy Surrounds January 6 Medals

During the last week of February, reports began appearing in media outlets that the U.S. Mint had quietly removed one of its popular bronze medal offerings from its website. The pieces are duplicates of the Congressional Gold Medals awarded on December 6, 2022, to the law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The bronze medal, which was designed and sculpted by U.S. Mint artist John P. McGraw, features a simple but powerful design with unmistakable motifs. The obverse shows the U.S. Capitol building with January 6, 2021, inscribed below. The reverse depicts the shields of the U.S. Capitol and Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia flanked by an American flag on the left. In the middle of the two badges appears “Honoring the service and sacrifice of those who protected the U.S. Capitol,” and “Act of Congress 2021” is below the flag.   

The medals are available in 1.5- and 3-inch diameter versions. They were authorized by a law passed by Congress (PL 117-32).

Two Reactions 

News of the medals’ removal from the mint’s retail site elicited strong reactions from both sides of the American political divide. And collectors, artists, and others in the coin community also discussed the issue online.

First, liberals and Democrats argued the move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to “erase” the history of January 6 as a violent insurrection against the federal government. In addition, some of the very law officers honored on the medals (each of whom received examples struck in gold) expressed their anger and disappointment about the mint’s decision. One of them, Aquilino Gonell, said on X (formerly Twitter) that he was frustrated he couldn’t order the pieces to give as gifts and saw their removal as a betrayal of the service and sacrifice of the officers. Another, Daniel Hedges, said on X that he contacted the mint for an explanation and received an email stating the mint periodically reviews products “to focus on those…with the broadest appeal.” 

On the other hand, conservatives applauded the removal of the medals. Some see them as “insurrection coins” that should never have been struck and as political statements by the Biden administration. 

Many collectors appreciate the strong design of these pieces and don’t necessarily think they are intended to serve as a political or ideological statement. 

Probing Deeper 

On March 5, I saw a post from Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee member Kellen Hoard on a PCGS Message Board thread noting that the medals were still available from the mint’s coin store at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

On March 7, I obtained examples of the medal for my collection in person. While there, I learned that the medals, which have been on sale since the gold versions were awarded to the four police officers on December 6, 2022, remain popular. That evening, I checked the mint’s site and noticed that the medals were again available afor sale online.

This matter might seem like merely a tempest in a teapot since the pieces can be ordered online again and were always available in mint stores. But a closer look reveals that there’s more to the story.

Marketing Language Revised 

It turns out that after the medals’ removal, the mint revised the original product description that included this paragraph:

“On January 6, 2021, a mob of insurrectionists forced its way into the U.S. Capitol building and congressional office buildings, engaged in acts of vandalism and looting, and violently attacked Capitol Police officers. These law enforcement heroes, along with responding officers from the D.C. Metropolitan Police, exemplified patriotism and commitment as they risked their lives in service to our country.”

It has been replaced with this revised language: “Public Law 117-32 authorized four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Every day, the United States Capitol Police and, at times, other law enforcement assist in ensuring the safety of the U.S. Capitol.” 

Note the removal of the reference in the original listing to “a mob of insurrectionists” and the description of their actions at the Capitol on January 6.

This language may have been removed because it offended some people’s sensibilities. Liberals are likely to see its removal as further proof of an effort to erase the history of January 6. 

This story isn’t likely to end anytime soon.