If anyone can answer this I'll be really impressed. John Kraljevich's ad last week pictured a close-up image of a whale. I wondered what coin or medal this was taken from. Does anyone know? Any guesses?

Attached is an image of the New Bedford Horticultural Society medal. It is struck in silver at 46 mm diameter. I hate to admit how easy this was to find. It is listed on JK's website.

It's a local-ish subject for me. New Bedford was something like the whaling capital of the world, so the image is appropriate. I have one other sale record (Paul Bosco 11/20/2000, lot 755), and it's also in Harkness's book on society medals. It would be a much more challenging question if you waited until AFTER John removed the medal from his online inventory!

I know I have seen it before, but don't remember where. My guess is a commemorative medal from New Bedford, Mass. Two of my searches on eBay are whale and whaling. I think maybe the whale with harpoons is part of their city seal.

See Paul J. Bosco Auction #22, 11/20/2000, lot 755 (obverse Photo’d). New Bedford Horticultural Society. Founded 1903. 45mm silver, by Braxmar. Engraved date of awarding: 1930. This is the catalog most famous today for its inclusion of the Yoachum Dollar.