Interesting Hudson-Fulton medal

Weiss · June 22, 2014 2:42AM

On eBay. Maybe I've just never seen it before, but it claims to be a Sandblast Matte Proof containing 11.2 troy ounces of pure gold

Bullsitter · June 22, 2014 3:56AM

I love it, wish I had the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

ricko · June 22, 2014 4:19AM

Wow.... amazing.... had not heard of this one before... Cheers, RickO

keets · June 22, 2014 5:13AM

for clarity if you don't want to follow the link.

Sandblast Matte Proof containing 11.2 Troy ounces of pure gold. As made, with just a few minor surface scratches. Struck for the American Numismatic Society by Whitehead & Hoag as indicated on the edge.
Issued in commemoration of the first use of steam navigation on the Hudson River in 1807. The obverse features a bust of Robert Fulton in a circular frame between two columns. A woman holds a model of The Clermontand is flanked by two other allegorical women. At the bottom , in three lines - "FIRST USE OF STEAM IN NAVIGATION / ON THE HUDSON RIVER / 1807." The reverse depicts the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson. Only two gold pieces were struck along with 100 Silver pieces and were sold to ANS members, and the Commission presented specimens struck in Virgin Alaskan gold to the heads of nations participating in the celebration, 7 traceable examples, all of which reside in museums. One of the two pieces struck by the ANS is in possession of the Society. This may well be the only opportunity in a lifetime to own one of these important and historic gold medals.

JJSingleton · June 22, 2014 6:01AM

Wow, that's a big azz gold medal. Pretty steep price, even for its size. Can anyone confirm only two exist?

Broadstruck · June 22, 2014 6:05AM

I saw it when it was listed and personally the low relief strike on this medal has never done anything for me. However there's been quite a bit of neat Hudson-Fulton related medal items listed lately such as bronze uni-face die trails, etc. This is one ANS medal in gold that I've never stumbled across while researching past auctions. As a regular buyer of unique items such as this which have no public auction records I understand the seller needed to assign a perceived value. Now as a potential buyer you would need to research what other gold ANS medals with just one publicly available have sold for to formulate actual value. That being said I feel this could be purchased for an astronomical amount less then the asking price.

Weiss · June 22, 2014 6:10AM

Unfortunately, the medal is one I've never cared for (as a collector of the Thomas Elder pieces, these just kind of, um, get in the way).

A huge honking solid gold mintage of two pushes it up on the cool factor scale. But not as high as it should.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 6:15AM

<< Sandblast Matte Proof containing 11.2 Troy ounces of pure gold. As made, with just a few minor surface scratches. Struck for the American Numismatic Society by Whitehead & Hoag as indicated on the edge.

Issued in commemoration of the first use of steam navigation on the Hudson River in 1807. The obverse features a bust of Robert Fulton in a circular frame between two columns. A woman holds a model of The Clermontand is flanked by two other allegorical women. At the bottom , in three lines - "FIRST USE OF STEAM IN NAVIGATION / ON THE HUDSON RIVER / 1807." The reverse depicts the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson. Only two gold pieces were struck along with 100 Silver pieces and were sold to ANS members, and the Commission presented specimens struck in Virgin Alaskan gold to the heads of nations participating in the celebration, 7 traceable examples, all of which reside in museums. One of the two pieces struck by the ANS is in possession of the Society. This may well be the only opportunity in a lifetime to own one of these important and historic gold medals. >>

It seems like there are at least 9 gold versions, 2 struck for the ANS and 7 made of Virgin Alaskan gold for heads of other nations?

Can you tell the difference between the 2 ANS medals and the 7 Virgin Alaskan gold versions?

Broadstruck · June 22, 2014 6:17AM

<< Wow, that's a big azz gold medal. Pretty steep price, even for its size. Can anyone confirm only two exist? >>

Here ya go as I had this bookmarked

Only 2 of the 76mm = 3" diameter medals had been struck out of gold.

291fifth · June 22, 2014 6:18AM

Even though it is rare I can't see it being worth much more than melt. The design just isn't that compelling.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 6:27AM

<< 

<< Wow, that's a big azz gold medal. Pretty steep price, even for its size. Can anyone confirm only two exist? >>

Here ya go as I had this bookmarked

Only 2 of the 76mm = 3" diameter medals had been struck out of gold. >>

From my reading of that, both the 2x CA gold versions and the 7x or more AK gold versions are 3" in diameter. One set of dies was used for the 2x CA Native gold medals, 100x sterling silver versions and 7 or more AK Native gold versions. No other dies are mentioned and it is mentioned the dies used to strike the CA gold versions were delivered to the Commission to strike the AK gold versions. While 7 AK gold versions are known according to the auction, it seems like the Commission was free to strike as many as they liked. The silver versions are also 3 inches in diameter.

<< Under the terms of the agreement with the Commission, The Numismatic Society prepared the original dies, three inches in diameter, and struck therefrom for the members of that Society only, two examples in native gold from California, and one hundred examples in solid sterling silver numbered from one upwards. The dies were then delivered to the Commission to be used only for striking such medals in native Alaskan gold as might be required for presentation to the head of each nation represented in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration by one or more of its naval vessels. After such use these dies are to be deposited in the Museum of The Numismatic Society.

The one hundred numbered silver medals from these three inch dies were offered by circular of July 27, 1909, to the members of the Society and were promptly taken. >>

Broadstruck · June 22, 2014 6:40AM

This gold 1983 ANS medal below is the only one publicly owned which Harry Bass had struck from himself while president of the society.

It measures around 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" and was struck out of nearly 28 troy ounces of 18KT gold.

It sold in January 2004 at Stack's for $11,500.00 with juice when gold was $416.00 an a ounce on average.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 6:53AM

Saved for posterity. This uses auto color. Auto levels produces a surprisingly dark and crusty looking image. It would be interesting to see what this looks like in hand, photo as is, auto color, or auto levels.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 7:17AM

<< This gold 1983 ANS medal below is the only one publicly owned which Harry Bass had struck from himself while president of the society. >>

It sounds good to be president

Zoins · June 22, 2014 7:31AM

Here's the celebration program from Wikipedia. Very cool sounding event with flights by Wilbur Wright. Perhaps a image of the medal should be added to the Wikipedia page.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 7:51AM

<< Even though it is rare I can't see it being worth much more than melt. The design just isn't that compelling. >>

It just needs a HK number, then collectors will need it for the registry set

Aegis3 · June 22, 2014 1:29PM

It was just in Spink-Smythe's auction a few days ago. If I calculated their buyer's premium correctly, it went for $19,650.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 2:03PM

<< It was just in Spink-Smythe's auction a few days ago. If I calculated their buyer's premium correctly, it went for $19,650. >>

That seems right if the Buyer's Premium is 20% up to $2000 and 15% above.

It was Lot 2552 in Auction 320.

MsMorrisine · June 22, 2014 2:11PM

can't be real
has princess leia and 2 of her sisters on the reverse

MidLifeCrisis · June 22, 2014 2:17PM

Doesn't do anything for me...especially at anything close to $75K.

Zoins · June 22, 2014 2:33PM

<< Doesn't do anything for me...especially at anything close to $75K. >>

What about closer to $20k which is what it sold for a few days ago? Thanks for the info Aegis3.

MidLifeCrisis · June 22, 2014 3:15PM

<< 

<< Doesn't do anything for me...especially at anything close to $75K. >>

What about closer to $20k which is what it sold for a few days ago? >>

Still no...but at that price I have different reasons.

Interesting Hudson-Fulton medal

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