NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 20, 2025

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 29, 2025, Article 19

Numismagram's Jeremy Bostwick sent along these five medals from his most recent upload of new Americana-themed material to his site. For all of the new items, please visit https://www.numismagram.com/inventory. -Garrett

103250 | FRANCE. National Convention bell metal Medal. Issued 1792/Year 1 of the Republic (41mm, 41.10 g, 12h). By André Galle in Lyon. LIBERTE FRANÇOISE / L'AN I DE LA R F, head of Liberty left, with hair flowing freely and with pole surmounted by Phrygian cap over far shoulder // A LA / CONVENTION / NATIONALE / PAR LES / ARTISTES REUNIS / DE LYON / PUR METAL / DE CLOCHE / FRAPPE EN / MDCCXCII in ten lines; all within garlanded oak wreath. Edge: Plain. Mazard 318a; Guilloteau 338; Bramsen 190b. Choice Mint State. Dark olive-brown surfaces, with some alluring brilliance; a minor reverse planchet chip near the rim is noted for completeness, but is rather easily overlooked given the exceptional quality of preservation and the overall superior nature of the planchet. On account of the composition (melted down bells), the level of craftsmanship of surviving examples tends to be on the poorer side. A popular and attractive type that clearly drew great inspiration from the Libertas Americana medal issued a decade prior, and paralleled the contemporary American coinage during the mint's initial outputs of "flowing hair" designs. $1,095.

103186 | ITALY & UNITED STATES. Christopher Columbus/"Civilization" white metal Medal. Issued 1892 for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America (59mm, 84.70 g, 12h). By Ludovico Pogliaghi & Angelo Cappuccio for Stefano Johnson in Milano. Central medallion reading CRISTOFORO COLOMBO and with robed bust facing slightly left; around, native princess and Columbia clasping outstretched arms; above, globe focused upon the Western hemisphere; below, eagle perched slightly left, head upturned right, with wings spread; all over wreath composed of palm fronds and laurel branches // The fruits of Columbus's first voyage: Winged personification of Civilization facing slightly left, head right, surrounded by Genii representing Education, Commerce, and Industry; to lower right, native chief, maiden, and two warriors crouching defensively; at a distance, coastline with the U.S. Capitol before rising sun; around, border comprised of alternating stars and state shields. Edge: Plain. Eglit 107; Starlust ST-eg-107wm; Rulau B8. Choice Mint State. Highly brilliant and lustrous in the fields, with a great frosted nature and intense relief elsewhere; a few scattered light marks are noted for completeness, and prevent an even higher designation. Ex Ed Kuszmar Columbian Exposition Collection. $545.

103258 | GERMANY & UNITED STATES. Christopher Columbus/"The Journey" bronze Medal. Issued 1893 for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America (50mm, 12h). By Mayer & Wilhelm in Stuttgart. CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS / BORN 1456 DIED 1506, half-length bust of Columbus facing slightly left, holding charts; all within wreath / SOUVENIR WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO, U.S.A. 1892-1893, two female allegories (Italia and America) to right, one seated and one standing, pointing at a distance to left over the expo ground; Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria on horizon to left with rising sun; above, eagle with wings spread over banner and with olive branch and arrows in talons; in two lines in exergue, 1492–1892 / IV. CENTENNIAL. Edge: Plain. Eglit 55; Starlust ST-eg-55; Rulau B6A; cf. Bernd Kaiser V, 128 (white metal). NGC MS-65. Glossy red-brown surfaces with alluring brillance. $435. "The Journey" medal was produced commemorating the quatercentenary in Germany by the Stuttgart-based manufacturer, Mayer & Wilhelm.

102771 | UNITED STATES & GREAT BRITAIN. Christopher Columbus/Columbian Expo bronze Award Medal. Issued 1896 for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America and as the official prize [awarded John Laing & Sons] for the 1893 Columbian Expo held in Chicago (76mm, 206.60 g, 12h). By Augustus Saint-Gaudens & Charles Barber, and struck by Scovill Manufacturing Co. in Waterbury. Columbus advancing facing slightly left onto land, extending arms and with head lifted toward the heavens; to upper right, arms of Spain above CHRISTOPHER / COLVMBVS / OCT XII / MCCCCXCII in four lines // Two nude female genii seated back-to-back, one trumpeting, the other inscribing globe between them; garlanded torch to left and right; below, Santa Maria left; all around central plaque reading WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / IN COMMEMORATION OF THE / FOUR HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS / MDCCCXCII • MDCCCLCIII / TO [JOHN LAING & SONS] in six lines. Edge: A few light scratches in one spot, otherwise plain. Eglit 90; Starlust ST-eg-90; Rulau X3. Gem Mint State. Rich chocolate brown surfaces, with great luster remaining. Includes original aluminum presentation box of issue. Compare to a similar, though slightly less attractive specimen in a PCGS MS-66 Brown holder, that realized a total of $1,200 [!] in the Stack's Bowers June Showcase auction (24 June 2025), lot 1170. Listed in the "100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens" as #53. $765.

103209 | UNITED STATES. Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition bronze award Medal. Issued 1909. Presented at the expo for the "bronze" award (76mm, 175.86 g, 12h). By Frederick Ziegler for Gorham Manufacturing Co.. – ALASKA • YUKON • PACIFIC • EXPOSITION – / 1909 • SEATTLE • 1909, Columbia seated facing, holding branch and plaque with bust of George Washington, and with foot set upon cornucopia; Native American in canoe to lower left, two prospectors to right; steamship and rising sun in background // Ornate plaque inscribed BRONZE MEDAL and with the lower panel left blank for engraving; all within floral wreath. Edge: Plain. Choice Mint State. Rich brown surfaces. $495.