US Mint Medal Joseph Francis 102mm "Galvanic Reduction"

MedalCollector

In a recent Stack's Bowers auction, there was an 1888 Joseph Francis Live Saving Medal. It's a very large medal at 102mm...about 4 inches in diameter.

The listing described this piece as a "galvanic reduction" and that "the surfaces resemble other official galvanic productions of this era".

My question is: What are the tell-tale signs of a galvanic reduction? Also, does anyone know anything else about this type of production at the US Mint? Thanks in advance!

Here is the link to the auction page: Stack's Bowers Auction

And here are the photos:

291fifth

An interesting medal from an artistic standpoint. The obverse design is clearly more modern looking and anticipates what will be seen in the early 20th century while the reverse is still very much a product of the mid-19th century.

Broadstruck

Originally posted by: GoldenEgg



The listing described this piece as a "galvanic reduction"

So it wasn't struck but is a electrotype?

coindeuce

I honestly believe that the nomenclature used in the lot listing (galvanic reduction) is a semantic misapplication. I believe it was intended to be described as "galvano reduction" which has nothing to do with an electrochemical process, but everything to do with creating a practical size of working hub, derived from an artists original model for a design. The medal described is definitely solid bronze. Many of the Mint medals created in the time period were the result of galvano reductions. In order for the artists to impart the intricate design desired on these medals, they found it necessary to make original models in much larger scale, and then scale them smaller with the Janvier process of reduction to make a working hub.



The cataloger's remark quoting R.W.Julian re:"examples of this medal required 50 strikes over a painstaking 23 hour process, a procedure that was seemingly quickly abandoned, if used at all, appears relevant only to the point that production of bronze medals of this size was not considered economical as a Mint product for retail sale.



In R.W. Julian's listing from"Medals of the U.S. Mint, 1792-1892" the LS-13 is recorded as struck in Gold, Bronze and Aluminum. The Gold (.900 Fine) composition may very well have been unique,(as most were at the time in any design) as a presentation to Francis. The bronze would have been very limited by the above remarks attributed to Julian, and the same for Aluminum, as Aluminum was more valuable than Gold at the time in it's infancy as a refined metal. I would be very surprised to learn that any Aluminum strikes have survived at present.

MedalCollector

So it wasn't struck but is a electrotype?

That's what I had thought based off the the wording in the listing.

I honestly believe that the nomenclature used in the lot listing (galvanic reduction) is a semantic misapplication. I believe it was intended to be described as "galvano reduction" which has nothing to do with an electrochemical process, but everything to do with creating a practical size of working hub, derived from an artists original model for a design.

Thank you, coindeuce. I think that clears it up. Considering that it took that long to produce a medal of this size and relief, I wouldn't have been surprised if they did produce electrotypes (assuming this is less time consuming). From what I can tell, this medal was still available in the 4 inch form until the 1940s or 1950s when it the Mint began selling a 3 inch version.

Since you mention the other alloys, here is a link to the gold medal on a Smithsonian Institute website.

I would be very surprised to learn that any Aluminum strikes have survived at present.

An aluminum Cyrus Field medal, also four inches in diameter, was sold in a 2014 Stack's Bowers auction. What an amazing piece!

ricko

That reverse is amazing.... truly a work of art. Such a shame we cannot have that on modern

coinage... I understand the circulating coins today could not have that detail/relief... but the

commemoratives or precious metals certainly could...if we would leave it up to artists. Cheers, RickO

jonathanb

I would be very surprised to learn that any Aluminum strikes have survived at present.

There was an aluminum example in the 1986 Dreyfus sale (lot 5564)

oih82w8

Francis’s three-pound medal was forged in solid gold, and valued at $6,000 in 1889.



Good luck getting a "certificate of appreciation" these days for a similar act.



It is a beautiful reverse design by Saint-Gaudens, Louis.



Thanks for sharing!