Won this piece in the recent Stacks Auction, Stacks image: Description: 1876 U.S. Centennial Exposition Official Medal. Bronze. HK-21, Julian CM-10. Rarity-3. Uncirculated. Obv. Sword-wielding Liberty rises under glory of stars. Rev. Congressional authorization. Deepest red mahogany, with round cardboard box of issue. :smile Authorized by Congress and struck in the Mint Exhibit at the Exposition Now the History Lesson: 1876 U.S. CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION PHILADELPHIA, PA Purpose: To commemorate 100th anniversary of signing of United States Declaration of Independence. Organization: Our first major multiple-building World's Fair; distinguished by direct Federal sponsorship. After spirited rivalry among larger cities, Congressional Acts 1871, 1872 settled issue; also created Centennial Commission on which all states and territories represented, and Board of Finance to work with Exposition Company; latter chartered locally, $10 stock certificates sold to public. City granted $1,000,000; state and Congress over $4,000,000. Site: Portion of Fairmount Park, 236 acres, presented "free of all expense" by city. Of 167 buildings erected, only one was permanent. Built of "granite, glass and iron," Memorial Hall became Philadelphia's Museum of Art. Dates, Attendance: May 10-Nov. 10, 1876; officially "opened" by President Grant. Attendance almost 10,000,000; over 8,000,000 paid. Participants: All states and territories and 49 foreign countries represented; 26 of former and some of latter erected own buildings. Exhibitors numbered 30,000; many Federal displays included Mint Exhibit. Comment: Our first "international exhibition of the arts, manufactures and products of the earth" proved to American citizens and foreign visitors alike that U.S. had "grown up…able to takes its place among nations of the world in commerce and industry." With 71 acres under roof, architecture was of "gingerbread" type, its influence still felt in older sections of some cities. Multiple-structure approach, as opposed to single large building, followed new European plan. Exposition emphasized machines and mechanical progress; "served as inspiration for decades" for industrial expansion. Alexander Graham Bell exhibited his telephone for first time. Aesthetically, America was electrified by display of work of world's artists. Previously, material problems concerned our young nation; art playing no significant part in American life. With this awakening, numerous art schools and societies sprang into being; there was rush of American students to Paris. Total impact on our cultural life was remarkable and permanent. Medals: Official Medals sponsored and issued in two sizes by Centennial Board of Finance; authorized by 43rd Congress. Large size precluded from listing here. Of issues below, Silver was struck in Mint Exhibit on grounds, sold for $3; Bronze and Gilt pieces struck at Philadelphia Mint, sold for 50 cents each. Dies were destroyed when exposition closed. See separate listing, Part I, for Nevada Dollar--1876. OFFICIAL MEDALS Engraved by William Barber. One of White Metal specimens was sold by Presidential Coin and Antique Company in 1983 from personal collection of Charles Barber, son of William Barber; other two specimens reported as from same source. Obv. Genius of American Independence, rising from recumbent position, grasps in r. hand sword to enforce her demands; raises l. hand in appealing pride to 13 stars blazing in firmament; beneath date 1776--all within beaded circle; around, These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States. Rev. Within wreath, In / commemoration / of the / Hundredth / Anniversary / of / American / Independence; outside, around By authority of the Congress of the United States; below 1876. HK-20 Silver. 38mm. Julian CM-10. 10,133 struck. HK-21 Bronze. Julian CM-10. Approx. 13,000 struck. HK-22 Gilt. Julian CM-10. Approx. 10,500 struck. HK-22a White Metal. 3 known. The Centennial International Exhibition was held in Philadelphia from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the independence of the United States. An act of Congress approved on March 3, 1871, authorized the creation of a United States Centennial Commission to prepare and superintend the execution of a plan for holding the exhibition. Invitations to participate were sent to foreign governments, and Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, Hawaii, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Siam, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Tunis, Turkey, and Venezuela accepted. Tunis was represented at this exhibition by G. Harris Heap, the United States Consul at Tunis, who served as commissioner for the Bev of Tunis under authority granted him by a joint congressional resolution of February 12, 1876. All of the states in the United States participated, and many of them contributed funds for the exhibition. Newspaper articles: http://digital.library.cornell.edu/...u0008-6;view=image;seq=0127;node=manu0008-6:3 http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/tex...e=l;frm=frameset;seq=727;page=root;view=image http://digital.library.cornell.edu/...0038-1;view=image;seq=0091;node=atla0038-1:11 Enjoy and I'll post my images upon the coins arrival. Letter from President Grant:
LeeG Absolutely Beautiful coin and extremely informative post. Thank You Very Much for posting this thread I very much enjoyed reading it:thumb: Stewart
1876 Hundreth Anniversay of American Independence I have this coin in silver inserted in a leather (?) booklet. Does anyone have an idea of its current value?
