Now that's a lot of GOLD! Of course it is from the Columbian Expo!
tmot99
Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
Months ago I was contacted by someone who had a relative that was at the Columbian Exposition. Not only was at, but was the Secretary of the Expo. Howard Owen Edmonds was the Secretary. You'll find his signature on many of the items throughout the Expo, most notably on the stock certificates that were issued. Howard had left some mementos in the family when he passed away and since then, have been passed down throughout the family. The family member who contacted me was not emotionally tied to these medals and was willing to put them into a collection where they belonged. After many conversations, the family member was comfortable enough with me to allow me to buy these from him.
The first medal is solid 22k gold. It is the only version known. Listed in Eglit in both bronze and silver (I have posted pictures of bronze ones and most recently in "The Collection" thread). This was minted with a blank reverse and engraved with a personalized thank you from the President of the Expo, Harlow Higinbotham.
The next three are different pins that Howard would have worn at the Fair.
And this button pin is only about an inch in diameter.
I am very honored and elated to have this entire set join my collection. I hope that you enjoy the history and pictures even a fraction the amount that I cherish them.
The first medal is solid 22k gold. It is the only version known. Listed in Eglit in both bronze and silver (I have posted pictures of bronze ones and most recently in "The Collection" thread). This was minted with a blank reverse and engraved with a personalized thank you from the President of the Expo, Harlow Higinbotham.
The next three are different pins that Howard would have worn at the Fair.
And this button pin is only about an inch in diameter.
I am very honored and elated to have this entire set join my collection. I hope that you enjoy the history and pictures even a fraction the amount that I cherish them.
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Comments
Double Wow!!! That is history, beauty and value all together. Cherish those items.
Going to be hard to beat that one though!
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Glad I got to you first! This is stuff that you HAD to buy!!!!!
Congratulations on a fantastic find!!!!
TD
(Maybe I should wait a few months before offering you Augustus St. Gaudens personal key to the Men's Room at the U.S. Treasury Exhibit!!!)
--Severian the Lame
Lance.
<< <i>Wowzer!
Glad I got to you first! This is stuff that you HAD to buy!!!!!
Congratulations on a fantastic find!!!!
TD
(Maybe I should wait a few months before offering you Augustus St. Gaudens personal key to the Men's Room at the U.S. Treasury Exhibit!!!)
But this was one of the things that had me wavering on buying "The Collection". I am so glad I got both.
okay that was a little dated, but all the WOW's were taken
very, very nice addition
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
tmot, your gold Columbian Expo Medal is incredible!!!
The personalized thanks inscribed on the back of the gold medal is an example of one on one direct communication via written English word at a level of sophistication that is probably unknown and beyond the abilities of many people today. Even if people do have the ability to write in this manner, they probably choose not to do so.
Maybe they prefer texting instead
Any idea who designed that gold piece?
The mint would surely have benefited from the artistic value.
I think the family picked the best place (collection) for their momentos to go...
Your collection is quickly elevating itself to the upper cust of collections, I am anxiously waiting for the forthcoming book!
QN
Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!
<< <i>Holy smokes. >>
That's: "Hokey Smokes, Bullwinkle!"
I'm sure there couldn't be a better place for them.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
<< <i>BRAVO. What's the weight on the gold medal, looks larger than an ounce. >>
6.2 troy ounces (193g)
<< <i>
<< <i>BRAVO. What's the weight on the gold medal, looks larger than an ounce. >>
6.2 troy ounces (193g) >>
DAMN! That's like.... DAMN!!!
Congrats!
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Larry L.
Dan
This stuff is going to be fun to look at as you show them to us.
Thanks,
Richard
my car art & My Ebay stuff
We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
<< <i>Thanks for sharing. Any idea of how many of those medallions were minted in the first place before they were inscribed or otherwise distributed? Also curious if the dies still exist and whether there have been any subsequent issuings. >>
Who knows how many were minted. There are no records and until this one emerged from the family, no gold staff medal was even known to exist. I think it would be a fair guess that only 4-5 gold ones at most were issued to the directors, but where are they? The bronze ones were issued to a lot more people and the silver to only the elite.
According to Nathan Eglit (the guy who wrote the book), "There were seven officers and 45 directors, as well as four lawyers connected with the Exposition corporation at the beginning of the Fair....It may be assumed that about 50 of [the silver] medals were issued by the President of the corporation." This information is listed under his listing of E-408 for a silver staff medal (minted on both sides, not engraved as this gold one) issued to the director, Potter Palmer.
I have no idea if dies still exist, but I would highly doubt it.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
One of the major reasons I love medal collecting so much!!
Way to go TMOT!!
John
Evergreen, Colorado
cadmanco
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Clearly a 69.5 on the IGWT scale.
<< <i>
<< <i>Thanks for sharing. Any idea of how many of those medallions were minted in the first place before they were inscribed or otherwise distributed? Also curious if the dies still exist and whether there have been any subsequent issuings. >>
Who knows how many were minted. There are no records and until this one emerged from the family, no gold staff medal was even known to exist. I think it would be a fair guess that only 4-5 gold ones at most were issued to the directors, but where are they? The bronze ones were issued to a lot more people and the silver to only the elite.
According to Nathan Eglit (the guy who wrote the book), "There were seven officers and 45 directors, as well as four lawyers connected with the Exposition corporation at the beginning of the Fair....It may be assumed that about 50 of [the silver] medals were issued by the President of the corporation." This information is listed under his listing of E-408 for a silver staff medal (minted on both sides, not engraved as this gold one) issued to the director, Potter Palmer.
I have no idea if dies still exist, but I would highly doubt it. >>
Oh, you wanted the die also???????