The winner of the coveted Gran Prix award at the XXXVIII FIDEM MÜNICH 2025 (Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d'Art), was American medalist Jim Licaretz. Licaretz is only the second American to win since the Grand Prix was established in 1992.

According to the FIDEM website,

The artist himself describes the medal in the exhibition catalogue as: "Thinking about medals I have made over the last few years." Licaretz goes on to describe the medals pictured above his exploded head as "Paul Auster, esteemed Jewish author and filmmaker, Leonard Bernstein, a great Jewish composer, and at the top right, a piece called Momento Mori - female nude with skulls. At the lower left is a medal of Akhenaten, a rather infamous Egyptian Pharoah."

The self-standing 4 x 4 x 1 inch bonded bronze Autoritratto di Fantasia medal can be ordered for $125 by contacting jimlicaretz@gmail.com or 310-686-0920.

The contemporary art medal exhibition and conference recently was held in Munich,Germany. Under the title of "Our Myths, Our Roots" the public exhibition consisted ofjust over 650 medals and is presented in a profusely illustrated catalog 260 pagecatalog edited by Martin Hirsch and David Weidgenannt of the Staatliche MunzsannlungMunchen (Munich Coin Cabinet). The medals are on display until January 2026 at theStaatiche Antikensammlungen museum in the Koingplatz complex.

In addition to the exhibition, a multi-day conference of lectures were held in the Hausder Kulturinstitute.

Philip Attwood, former keeper of coins at the British Museum and president of FIDEMsince 2012 turned over the reins to Canadian artist Susan Taylor. The Grand Prix awardfor best medal in the exhibition was awarded to Jim Licaretz of the USA, for his medaltitled Autoritratto di Fantasia, 100x100x22 mm bonded aluminum, cast.

The XXXIX FIDEM congress and exhibition is slated for fall 2027 in Prague, CzechRepublic.

For more information about FIDEM, contact the US Delegate, George Cuhaj atgeorge.cuhaj@yahoo.com.

Official Conference Medal designed by Eva Backofen of Dresden and features anancient god of blacksmithing with a façade of the Glyptothek museum where theexhibition is held. The reverse has a incuse inscription.67mm bronze

USA Delegation Medal. Designed by Ross Pollard, featured a stein on the obverse anda linden leaf sprig on the reverse. Struck at the Medalcraft Mint, Green Bay, WI. 38mmbronze