Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Four Freedoms Victory Medal
Artifact IDMO 1945.32.50
Object Type
Medal
Artist
Julio Kilenyi
(Hungarian-born American, 1885 - 1959)
Maker
Robbins Company
(American, founded 1892)
Dateca. 1944
Mediummetal (14k gold)
Dimensionsobject (medal) Diam 1 1/2 in (3.8 cm )
box/case (open) H 4 1/4 in x W 3 3/4 in x D 3 3/4 in (10.8 cm x 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm )
box/case (open) H 4 1/4 in x W 3 3/4 in x D 3 3/4 in (10.8 cm x 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) A small, round gold medal in honor of Franklin Roosevelt's contributions. Stamped on the edge of the medal: 14K.
OBVERSE: A left-facing high relief portrait of the head and shoulders of FDR with the artist's name in the lower right: KILENYI. An inscription encircles the portrait: FOUR FREEDOMS VICTORY MEDAL / FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
REVERSE: A nude male figure, holding a victory wreath upheld in his right hand and laurel branches cradled in his left arm, is depicted descending steps. Images of marching soldiers, a plane, and a battleship are in the background. The inscribed text reads: VICTORY / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF WORSHIP / FREEDOM FROM FEAR / FREEDOM FROM WANT / AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO VICTORY / TO / FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
b) A square, black leather hinged presentation/storage box. The box appears to be original to the medal.
Historical NoteThis medal was presented to President Roosevelt on March 14, 1944 by sculptor Julio Kilenyi. The sculptor presented an identical medal to Winston Churchill.OBVERSE: A left-facing high relief portrait of the head and shoulders of FDR with the artist's name in the lower right: KILENYI. An inscription encircles the portrait: FOUR FREEDOMS VICTORY MEDAL / FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
REVERSE: A nude male figure, holding a victory wreath upheld in his right hand and laurel branches cradled in his left arm, is depicted descending steps. Images of marching soldiers, a plane, and a battleship are in the background. The inscribed text reads: VICTORY / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF WORSHIP / FREEDOM FROM FEAR / FREEDOM FROM WANT / AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO VICTORY / TO / FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
b) A square, black leather hinged presentation/storage box. The box appears to be original to the medal.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 22, 1944. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesStamp Collecting Materials (National Archives Identifier 749938)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.In Collection(s)
Exhibitions
Not on view