I collect ancients for a reason, but I got interested in medals after a conversation with another collector a few years ago. I like a nice engraving. A miniature work of art. Medals usually have a larger canvas than most coins, so the engraver has so much more to work with. I didn't think modern collectors would care about my little medal, but I thought maybe collectors of ancients would appreciate a nice engraving. This medal is 1892, ancient in the eyes of my kids but obviously not ancient. However, like the 1861 double eagle I bought, I thought the obv portrait had an ancient greek beauty to it. Someone asked about collecting focus..... well, this shows how undefinable it can be sometimes. I bought this from Ken Dorney last week (thx.) I typically don't collect bronze, but the portrait on this jumped out at me. I travel to Chicago so often, perhaps this means more to me than most, but the 1892 Chicago Worlds Fair was a historic event, so here you go. The reverse is less important to me, but I won't begrudge it. WORLD COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION MEDAL, 1892, COLUMBUS LANDING IN SAN SALVADOR (Chicago Worlds Fair) United States, World Columbian Exposition, 1892 Bronze Medal, 50mm, 41.99 grams Obverse: Head of Liberty left wearing pileus with LIBERTY, border of stars, 1892. Reverse: Scene of Christopher Columbus and party landing at San Salvador planting flag, DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN HONOR OF THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL 1492. Eglit101 Purchased thru Ken Dorney 10-26-2015 The Medallic History of Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Exposition of 1893 is extensive and complex. The World's Columbian Exposition, (1892-1893), was organized to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's landfall in the New World, and to show the world the enormous progress that had taken place through those four hundred years. The WCE became a defining moment in Chicago's history and the history of the United States as a whole. When the World's Columbian Exposition opened, only 22 years had passed since the Chicago Fire of 1871; only 28 years had passed since the end of the American Civil War. In the interval, the era of Reconstruction had given way to a Gilded Age characterized by frenetic industrial growth, mass immigration, and class violence as evidenced by Chicago's 1886 Haymarket Square bombing. Experts estimate that over 27.5 million people attended the WCE. credit https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=15114
That really is a beautiful work of art. I feel the same way about medals but haven't pursued any, although there are several on my Vcoins wish list. Wait, I do have two medals. I bought them a couple of years ago in a S-B auction, although the sole purpose was to try out their bidding platform before the ancient lots began. Coincidentally, they are also from the Columbian Exposition. They're not great works of art though. Someone on another forum posted a remarkable medal and I wish I had bookmarked it. All I remember is the astonishing detail of a cathedral's interior. If I can find it, I'll post it here.
Gorgeous stuff ... yah, I'm one drink away from buying one of those babies!! => congrats on pulling the trigger (great example)
that is very nice looking, i've checked out several...but man, i don't have a much of a coin focus as it is, i'm trying to to spread out any more. but i do like them. have you looked at this fellows posts in the world coin fourm? he always posts cool medals.. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-few-italian-renaissance-medals.258429/
