Columbian Exposition Milan Medal Heritage ANA Newp
Jinx86
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Somehow during the ANA show I found time to attend my first Heritage lot viewing. It was a neat process, but takes many people to organize. I did have intentions to attend the live auction, but was unable to leave the table. The live auction is easily viewed by smart phone and bidding is easier than computer based bids. I was quite surprised to have not won one, but two lots back to back. Each full page write ups and images. HA did well on presenting this piece, the write up was fantastic. The detail to this medal is so well defined, its hard to describe. Sadly there are a few potentially active verdigris spots on the coin that may need to be dealt with.
From HA site:
1892 World's Columbian Exposition, Cristoforo Colombo Bronze Medal, Eglit-106, MS65 NGC. Bronze, Plain Edge. 102 mm, 463 grams. These spectacular medals were designed by Modello Carpuccio, engraved by Lodovico Pogliaghi, and struck in Milan by Stefano Johnson, although Eglit wrote that the design was by Pogliaghi and the engraving by Carpuccio. This is the important large format, bronze medal dated MDCCCXCII (1892) that was issued for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (the small diameter is Eglit-107).
A contemporary article in the New York Times of Sunday, October 16, 1892 discussed this emission:
"On one side a nearly nude Indian Princess reaches to clasp hands over a bas relief of Columbus, with a draped goddess symbolical of the Western arts and sciences. The earth's globe is above their joined hands, the American eagle is below the bas relief. About the head of the discoverer runs the inscription 'Cristoforo Colombo.' The Indian Princess has palm and tobacco leaves behind her head, and at her feet an idol and a rattlesnake; the later she is treading to death. The draped figure has laurel and wheat behind her head, and near her feet the symbols of architecture, sculpture, and painting.
"The reverse is a lively design with many figures. On the margin are shields of various American nations, and in the background an ideal country in which the Brooklyn Bridge can be distinguished near by, and, against the rising sun, the dome of the Capitol at Washington. In the foreground is an Indian cacique, half rising on his spear; behind him two Indians, a squaw and a papoose. The group is looking up at the female winged-Genius of Progress, draped and with a star above her head, who sweeps along supported and followed by four Cupids. One carries a torch, another a cornucopia, a third the winged and snaky staff of Mercury, the fourth helps to prop one of her arms. It is a vision vouchsafed to the cacique, who stares at it open-mouthed."
This medal is discussed on pages 41- 42 of the October 1892 issue (Volume 27) of the American Journal of Numismatics in an article titled "New Columbus Medals:"
"Two alone seem to demand special notice; one of these is that known as the Milan Medal, the dies of which were cut be Pogliaghi, and the design by another Italian artist, Carpuccio."
Exceptionally well preserved, this bronze medal has glossy brown surfaces with minimal marks on either side. A small pedigree identifier is evident inside the obverse border at 5 o'clock. Splashes of lighter yellow patina visit each side. Eglit-106 is occasionally encountered in white metal, but rarely in bronze. The large format, bronze Cristoforo Colombo medal by Stefano Johnson is a rarity. This is only the second example that we have handled in bronze.
My images are a bit lacking. Will attempt to take some new shots from work in the light box.
Side by side with a Morgan Dollar.
Comments
These are both fascinating medals. Congratulations on adding them to your collection!
The Morgan Dollar for scale was a good idea.
I followed this from the time it first showed and expected I would pass once it reached a certain level with the pre-sale bids. now I'm happy to not have gotten into a battle and forced the price higher. when I first saw the pictures I was excited until I looked at the in-holder images, then my excitement waned a bit, but it appears from a comparison of Heritage/NGC/Jinx86 images that the medal is actually medium brown in color. I presume you were at the show and saw it in-hand??
will you change your icon to this medal from the WM you currently have?? I much prefer Bronze but some of the White Metal issues can be striking when found white and with no oxidation.
congratulations, such a medal should be a centerpiece!!
Very nice medals....intricate details relief on the portrait. Cheers, RickO
@keets
I did view it prior to the sale, after that I factored in conservation cost on my bid. Was quite surprised with the lack of interest in the lot, as no one hit my "secret max". The white medal in my icon is the smaller version and an electrotype.
not to rain on your parade, but I just won a similar Eglit 106 in Bronze at the Stack's Internet only auction. it's hard to tell what the actual color might be because the listing states Lacquered but it seems to be in very nice MS condition. I have removed lacquer from coins/medals in the past and started a thread a week or so back asking if anyone had used NCS/PCGS services for such a thing. I'm confident that either me or another service will render this medal as a lacquer free gem.
@keets
My lack of research may have ended up with you buying the nicer of the two. Stacks sales havent worked well for me in the past, always late to the show. HA, with their want list alerts is how I found out this was coming up for sale.
you need to be more anal like me, check every day. it only takes a week or so and then it's a formed habit that's almost impossible to break!!!
I actually waited for weeks until the Stack's listings were up, only to be met with disappointment when their in-person sales had none of these listed. then about two weeks ago I did another search like every other day and noticed this medal --- I had somehow managed to "miss" the Internet Only sale.
to be honest, I think this lot may have suffered because it's lacquered, I'm sure that may be why it wasn't in the major sale and it also probably caused some bidders to pass. I'll know more when it arrives but just going on the Heritage description for your medal one thing is clear, Eglit 106 at 102mm in Bronze isn't common. they are almost always in White Metal.
most descriptions of this larger medal don't mention that it's a shell, two sides that are soldered/brazed together over some type of plaster with the edge finished. I missed the link below when these two "sets" sold at Stack's and then again when it was listed at another site. if I find it again I'll try to own it and refinish the edges so they are round.
https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-DH08I/1892-stefano-johnson-medal-two-separate-shells-each-102-mm-as-eglit-106-rulau-b-8-extremely-fine
Great set! I dont know if I would have the two halves reconnected, I would rather have them to show in my display on how these were made. I would however have my jeweler rework the edges.