There are only a small number of private full-service mints in the United States, and an even smaller number that can proclaim expertise in creating true medallic art. Northwest Territorial Mint, a global leader in custom minting and the largest producer of specialty medallions for the U.S. Military, is one of those few companies.

Northwest Territorial Mint recently produced a series of medallions honoring a number of major military installations. These designs exhibit the company's expertise in rendering intricate detail in deep relief using splash dies. Unlike standard coining dies, splash dies are positioned in the coin press without a collar device, permitting the flow of metal outward toward the edges of the medallion during the striking process.

Included in this series is a medallion dedicated to McChord Air Force Base, the massive 4,600-acre air station located near Tacoma, Washington. The design for the 1 3/4-inch brass medallion was created by Michael Shaudis, a senior medallic artist with Northwest Territorial Mint since 2005 and an American Medallic Sculpture Association member.  

Shaudis, a veteran of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, has served with the 514th and 446th Air Mobility wings for the past 10 years. He currently serves as a flight medic with the McChord-based 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

As a talented professional with extensive military experience, Mr. Shaudis is not alone at Northwest Territorial Mint. In fact, the company employs a number of retired and former members of the U.S. Military. The company's CEO, Ross Hansen, who is himself a former Army aviator, leads a team that includes retired Army Ranger, a retired Army Command Sergeant Major, and a retired Navy Master Chief.

This 'insider' expertise has helped the company to create designs that truly capture the people, places, and ideas they're designed to honor. Combined with the skill of Northwest Territorial Mint's sculptors, engravers, and minting technicians, the result is a stunning portfolio of medallic art. The McChord medallion is a prime example of the premium placed on precision at Northwest Territorial Mint, both with regard to the research supporting the design concept and the craftsmanship exhibited in the finished piece. The obverse depicts McChord's historic number three and four hangars behind a masterfully detailed C-17. The medallion's extraordinary relief brings to life the elements of the design, offering a close-up perspective of the base and the surrounding landscape, including majestic Mount Rainier.

The company has recently produced a number of other designs that showcase its mastery of deep-relief minting. These include a medallion dedicated to U.S. Air Force Boom Operators and one that honors the heritage of Fort Lewis, which is located adjacent to McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. The obverse of the Boom Operator medallion depicts a tanker crewmember performing an in-air refueling operation. The design's detailed composition, oriented to the perspective of the boom operator, conveys the incredibly precise nature of the task at hand. Its high-relief design renders it an even more realistic and visually compelling snapshot of the skilled work carried out each day by Air Force boom operators.

Northwest Territorial Mint's medallic tribute to Fort Lewis, the Army post named in honor of Captain Meriwether Lewis, is a stunning example of a montage design struck in deep relief. The obverse design features a beautifully detailed bust of Captain Lewis, dressed in military uniform and gazing with watchful eye over Fort Lewis's historic main gate. A fully modernized armored assault vehicle stands to the right of the gate, symbolic of the post's continued strategic importance. Mount Rainier looms in the backdrop. The reverse features the official seal of the U.S. Army.

Designed with attention to subtle detail and minted with paramount skill and craftsmanship, these medallions are prime examples of Northwest Territorial Mint's expertise in creating medallic art of the finest quality. More information about Northwest Territorial Mint's capabilities and samples of the company's work can be found at www.nwtmint.com. Also, each of the designs featured here, and many others like them, can be purchased at the company's online store: store.nwtmint.com.