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US Treasury Medal, Engraved Grace Kelly, 1956 - A Mystery
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<p>[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 5305271, member: 110226"]I normally post threads on the ancients, and, to a lesser degree, world forum sites. However, I decided to post on this forum a silver medal that I purchased back in March 2017. I am not sure if this forum or the US coins forum is most appropriate, given the non-coin nature of this medal, but I decided to post it here.</p><p><br /></p><p>This silver medal came without the box. It weighs 21.2 grams. In terms of condition, it shows signs of some handling and cleaning hairlines.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1223805[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I came across this medal while randomly going through eBay one night. I noticed that this medal was being sold by a French seller in medals based in Montpellier, France. At first glance this treasury medal looked like a typical one issued in the 1950s. The design is different from the earlier type issued in the 1940's, during the World War II in particular, as part of the effort to raise war bonds.</p><p><br /></p><p>What makes this medal so distinctive is an engraving on the reverse panel, "Grace Kelly 1956". I did a little research online and found a very short article in the New York Times, March 1956, where a representative of the Treasury Department presented a Savings Bond silver medal to Grace Kelly in honor of her one-minute film promoting the Savings Bond Program.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1223804[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The press photo shows only the obverse. I assume that the reverse was engraved when presented to her. Presenting a personality such as Grace Kelly with a medal that is blank on the reverse would be rather odd. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's a link to the article:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://gracefilm.tumblr.com/post/111477936460/a-medal-for-graceactress-grace-kelly-holds-silver" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://gracefilm.tumblr.com/post/111477936460/a-medal-for-graceactress-grace-kelly-holds-silver" rel="nofollow">https://gracefilm.tumblr.com/post/111477936460/a-medal-for-graceactress-grace-kelly-holds-silver</a></p><p><br /></p><p>So, this is a mystery, probably one that really can't be solved. Is this the actual medal? How did it end up in Montpellier, France? I assume that Grace Kelly took the medal with her when she moved to Monaco and married Prince Rainier III later in 1956, but where did it go from there? Is it possible that the medal was lost or sold during her life or after her death?</p><p><br /></p><p>I inquired with the seller. He replied that the medal was part of a lot of medals that he purchased from a local shop. That was the extent of the information from him.</p><p><br /></p><p>I believe the medal is genuine, but it is possible that someone might have done this engraving on a blank contemporary Savings Bond medal, an unlikely possibility, I think.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would like to know your opinions.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 5305271, member: 110226"]I normally post threads on the ancients, and, to a lesser degree, world forum sites. However, I decided to post on this forum a silver medal that I purchased back in March 2017. I am not sure if this forum or the US coins forum is most appropriate, given the non-coin nature of this medal, but I decided to post it here. This silver medal came without the box. It weighs 21.2 grams. In terms of condition, it shows signs of some handling and cleaning hairlines. [ATTACH=full]1223805[/ATTACH] I came across this medal while randomly going through eBay one night. I noticed that this medal was being sold by a French seller in medals based in Montpellier, France. At first glance this treasury medal looked like a typical one issued in the 1950s. The design is different from the earlier type issued in the 1940's, during the World War II in particular, as part of the effort to raise war bonds. What makes this medal so distinctive is an engraving on the reverse panel, "Grace Kelly 1956". I did a little research online and found a very short article in the New York Times, March 1956, where a representative of the Treasury Department presented a Savings Bond silver medal to Grace Kelly in honor of her one-minute film promoting the Savings Bond Program. [ATTACH=full]1223804[/ATTACH] The press photo shows only the obverse. I assume that the reverse was engraved when presented to her. Presenting a personality such as Grace Kelly with a medal that is blank on the reverse would be rather odd. Here's a link to the article: [URL]https://gracefilm.tumblr.com/post/111477936460/a-medal-for-graceactress-grace-kelly-holds-silver[/URL] So, this is a mystery, probably one that really can't be solved. Is this the actual medal? How did it end up in Montpellier, France? I assume that Grace Kelly took the medal with her when she moved to Monaco and married Prince Rainier III later in 1956, but where did it go from there? Is it possible that the medal was lost or sold during her life or after her death? I inquired with the seller. He replied that the medal was part of a lot of medals that he purchased from a local shop. That was the extent of the information from him. I believe the medal is genuine, but it is possible that someone might have done this engraving on a blank contemporary Savings Bond medal, an unlikely possibility, I think. I would like to know your opinions. Thanks[/QUOTE]
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US Treasury Medal, Engraved Grace Kelly, 1956 - A Mystery
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