NEW BOOK: OREGON CENTENNIAL TOKENS AND MEDALS

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 14, 2026, Article 6

William (Bill) Hyder and I have published a new book on Oregon Centennial Municipal Trade Tokens and Medals from 1959. This book includes about 38 different major types and over 100 different varieties. The municipal locations are arranged alphabetically. The book includes a detailed analysis of die varieties with four major varieties identified. A suggested emission sequence is included. Mintage figures are included where known and newspaper reports were analyzed for details about the local issues.

The book is 55 pages long with enlarged photos detailing the 4 die varieties. A checklist is included at the end of the book. This book is available from the publisher at Blurb Books at blurb.com. The cost is about $21."

This catalog is part of a larger body of work by the authors (and other contributors) that endeavors to catalog information on Official, Semi-official, and private state and territorial anniversary commemorative medals, medallions, medalets and commemorative coins (which are collectively referred to as exonumia).

Other locations cataloged so far include Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, and Vermont. None of these are in print yet, however presentations have been made to small audiences.

The emphasis in these efforts is on exonumia that commemorates officially sanctioned events about the state by the state and or federal government. Such events include anniversaries of discovery, exploration, settlement, creation of a Territory, and Statehood. It does not include state medals that celebrate federal anniversaries such as the revolutionary war, declaration of independence, etc. It also does not include Town or City anniversaries unless it is the first location of settlement. Dual purpose exonumia that celebrate a state anniversary and a local event in the same year are included.

Typical anniversary dates are: 25th year (silver jubilee), 50th year (semi-centennial or golden jubilee), 75th year (diamond jubilee), 100th year (centennial), 150th year (sesquicentennial), 200th year (bicentennial) etc.

To be listed in this catalog (and other catalogs in this endeavor), items must be issued within two years of the actual anniversary date. The only anniversary items that are included are anniversaries not more often than every 25 years. For example, a medal issued to celebrate the 35th anniversary would not be included.

There are also many privately issued exonumia items that have not been sponsored or authorized by local government, state government, or the federal government. Some of the more common privately issued exonumia items will be listed as Appendices at a later date (For example Heraldic Art Medals).

This catalog is intended to be an asset to collectors of historical medals and other exonumia. It is organized by state and chronologically (oldest items first). Within each anniversary year items are listed alphabetically by location with statewide items listed first.

Congratulations - this took a lot of work and the effort will be appreciated by collectors future and present. Here's some additional information and a link to the ordering page. -Editor

For more information, or to order, see:
Oregon Centennial Medals (https://www.blurb.com/b/12798608-oregon-centennial-medals)