Monnier 1866 Colorado Mining Medal

notenovice · May 14, 2008 10:28PM

Hi,
Looking for information on estimated mintage, rarity, value and any history on a Colorado Mining medal issued while Colorado was still a territory. Statehood was 1876 I believe.

obverse legend: MONNIER METALLURGIC TREATMENT OF SULPHURRETS
reverse legend: THE MONNIER METALLURGICAL COMPANY OF COLORADO|STRUCK FROM THE FIRST COPPER PRODUCED PRODUCED IN COLORADO 1866
Size is about 64mm.
Sorry no pics are available at this time.

The only information I am able to find is that the ANS has one in their permanent collection (1984.97.42).
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

covers · August 21, 2008 11:53PM

notenovice - I presume you mean the medal shown below (a quick scan). I don't know anything about it but here is another example. I doubt if it was produced during territorial period.

jonathanb · August 22, 2008 2:49AM

It's a US Mint medal. A couple of them were in one of the last few Ford sales (and sold at prices MUCH higher than similar medals had sold for previously).

covers · August 22, 2008 2:52AM

Jonathanb - thank you. What did they bring in Ford? I was thinking more ebay fodder. Was any date ascribed to their manufacture?

jonathanb · August 22, 2008 1:33PM

Julian CM-34. Struck in 1868. Number struck is unknown "due to defective mint records", per Julian. Julian cites an 1869 auction record saying 50 struck.

Earlier auction records were in the $300-500 range, but the Ford specimens sold for about $3,000 each. I would not expect eBay prices to come anywhere near the prices in the Ford sales.

covers · August 22, 2008 9:38PM

Jonathamb - Thanks for the additional info.

notenovice · November 29, 2008 5:47AM

Hi,
I just checked my PM and noticed the response to this...
I can't believe these have gone for as much as $3K...WOW!
I just picked one up this summer for only $100.
Thanks for info...

dcarr · June 25, 2019 4:44PM

@jonathanb said:
Julian CM-34. Struck in 1868. Number struck is unknown "due to defective mint records", per Julian. Julian cites an 1869 auction record saying 50 struck.

Earlier auction records were in the $300-500 range, but the Ford specimens sold for about $3,000 each. I would not expect eBay prices to come anywhere near the prices in the Ford sales.

OLD THREAD ALERT.

My recent Colorado Springs Coin Show report documents one of these medals (with unusual edge engraving) that was in the Ford sale. See thread here: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1021714/

RogerB · June 25, 2019 5:33PM

notenovice - This letter might help a little. It's only been waiting for 11 years.

dcarr · June 25, 2019 6:22PM

Interesting that 375 leftovers were probably destroyed. The question remains - how many were actually released ?

291fifth · June 26, 2019 5:10AM

Melt 'em, Danno!

RogerB · June 26, 2019 5:59AM

This excerpt from "The Mines of Colorado" by Ovando J. Hollister (1867) might provide some clues. (Philadelphia Gold Mining Company, bottom left.)

If the US Mint letter and the medal's assertions about origin of copper are correct, then the company would have sent pure copper to the US Mint. The Mint would have executed the order and possibly supplied a few test pieces in advance for approval. If the remaining medals were not paid for and later melted, then only the trial or test medals would have remained.

RogerB · June 26, 2019 6:18AM

An ACT - TO INCORPORATE THE MONNIER METALLURGICAL COMPANY OP COLORADO,
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of Colorado Territory:
Section 1. That W. H. Stevens, W. B. Hazeltine, C. H. Clark, William B. White, and their associates, be and are hereby created a body politic by the name, style and title of the "Monnier Metallurgical Company of Colorado,” January 11, 1867.

Also see the TAMS Journal, October 1980, Page 175, "The Monnier Medal Story" by Jim Wright & Bob Gardner.

Monnier 1866 Colorado Mining Medal

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