The Medal Maker

Laura Cardin Fraser (1889-1996) was an American sculptress whose works included medals, coins, fountains, and animals for which she is particularly well known. The first woman to design a coin for the US Treasury, she is also known for her double equestrian statue of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Her husband, James Earle Fraser, a renowned sculptor himself, designed the Indian Head "Buffalo" nickel.

The award medal documented in this video was first presented by the National Sculpture Society to Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) in recognition of his many fine sculptures and monuments. These include the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, and the Minute Man statue in Concord, Massachusetts.

Narrator Elizabeth Jones was the eleventh and last Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. Appointed by President Reagan in 1981, she held this position until her resignation in 1990, after which the position was left vacant and eventually abolished. Her work includes many commissions from prestigious clients such as the Medallic Art Company and the Judaic Heritage Society.