Medal of Franklin Pierce 1853

Salathiel Ellis crafted this bronze medal of Franklin Pierce in 1853. Circular in form, the medal presents a profile of Pierce, encircled by his title, ‘President of the United States.’ The profile, a convention inherited from ancient Roman coinage, speaks to the enduring human desire to immortalize leaders. Consider the Roman emperors whose visages on coins not only declared their reign but also projected an image of power and authority. This motif of the profile persists through the Renaissance, gracing portrait medals that sought to revive classical ideals. The choice of bronze itself echoes back to antiquity, where it was a metal of significance for both practical tools and artistic endeavors. Here, the bronze lends a sense of gravitas and timelessness to Pierce's image. This is more than a mere portrait; it is an invocation of historical precedent, intertwining Pierce’s image with a lineage of leaders reaching back to antiquity. The cyclical nature of symbols allows them to resurface across epochs, imbued with layers of meaning that connect us to the past.