1971 Menconi silver medal
Namvet69
Posts: 9,425 ✭✭✭✭✭
Picked this beauty up at a charity auction for a few dollars. No packaging. At 60.7 mm, 169 g. Maco on edge .999+ pure silver, a control # 110. I am having a problem finding a record of mintage run, neither Maco nor U.S. Capitol Historic society offer info. I did find that this silver medal was presented to Britain as a diplomatic gift at some point. Any info is welcome. Peace Roy
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Comments
I agree, that is a beauty! Hope someone has info on it.
Thanks @Hemispherical for opening them up. I'm still searching the web but no answers yet. Have a good night.
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
Very nice. Love it!
Don’t know that piece. The 110 would be a serial number.
Is the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine online at the Newman Numismatic Portal yet? There would be a good chance of finding an ad for the piece in 1971. Likewise Coin World if it were available. The Numismatist less likely but possible.
Found this @Namvet69
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UK:
https://www.rct.uk/collection/445626/u-s-a-medal-issued-by-the-united-states-capital-historical-society-struck-to-help
Extract: “Description
1 medal : silver gilt Obverse: Partial view of the Capitol's east front, inscription and stars above. WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.ESTABLISH/JUSTICE.INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENCE.PROMOTE THE/... Obverse: (continued) ... GENERAL WELFARE AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY. In exergue: "A PLACE OF /RESOUNDING/DEEDS' Reverse: George Washington wearing apron and holding a trowel laying the cornerstone of the Capitol building. Facsimilies of the seals of the House of Representatives and the Senate to left and right, American eagle above. (CONTINUED) Reverse: (continued) .. To right: CORNERSTONE / OF CAPITOL / .LAID. / SEPTEMBER 18TH / 1793 .
Provenance
Presented to The Queen by The Speaker, U.S.Capitol Historical Society.”
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That's very interesting but mine is not gilt silver. Just read about the life of the engraver Ralph Menconi. He was a Joyzee boy.
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
Nice looking medal. Never seen that one before.
A really interesting medal..... and the edge demonstrates a 'layering' pattern....not sure if that is from the die collar, if there was one.... Any comments on that? Cheers, RickO
The current medal is a "special commemorative" issue of the USCHS and was struck at least in the large silver and 38mm bronze. I would suspect that there are also large bronze and 38mm silver issue as well - I think I have handled these two sized in the past but not in the last 5 years or so.
The USCHS is better known numismatically for their 12 piece medal set issued between 1978 and 1989, one per year with mostly historical themes loosely tied to the Capitol, the District and early Colonial topics. This set was struck in 3" silver & bronze as well as 38mm silver & bronze, cased with descriptive folders. Most interesting is that the last 11 medals were struck by MACO but the first year issue (1978) was struck at the U.S. Mint and is a listed National Commemorative Medal (Turner-43, Dean 1978-1a through 1e). The 1978 medal was struck in sterling silver; 339 small gold medals were also struck. There are some auction records available out there for singles and sets.
Returning to the OP medal, I can't add anything about the gilted presentation piece but the small 38mm bronze is still available from the USCHS for $5.00 (and turns up often in miscellaneous medals lots that I buy). It should be noted that the 1978 U.S. Mint 3" bronze is also still available for $24.99 -- recent boxed examples that I have auctioned recently have realized higher prices than that.
Thanks for some of the history and current information about the medal @tokenpro!
All kinds of experts and valuable information abound in these forums!