1925 Norse American Medal ... Circulated Ef40

While not technically a USA commemorative ... and since it lacks a denomination it is in fact not a USA coin ... many collectors consider the 1925 Norse American Medal to be a member of the classic USA silver commemorative set ... call it if you will the 51st classic silver type coin.

I've always been intrigued by this odd shaped medal ... and have been searching out MS and circulated examples for my commemorative set.

Collecting information has been tough for me to find on this medal ... the best I have so far is the following direct quote from an old Heritage auction catalog listing ....

The Norse American medal was proposed by Congressman O. J. Kvale of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Authorized by Congress on March 2, 1925, these medals commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first organized arrival of Norse immigrants in the United States. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the sloop Restaurationen, these Scandinavians had arrived in Orleans County, New York on October 9, 1825. Kvale petitioned for a medal instead of a coin because Congress had authorized four Commemorative coins earlier in 1925: the Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial, Fort Vancouver Centennial, California Diamond Jubilee, and Vermont or Battle of Bennington Half Dollars. The controversy surrounding the Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Half Dollar of 1924 also helped to convince Congressman Kvale that a proposal for a medal stood a better chance of acceptance by the federal government at that time.
In addition to 33,750 medals on thick silver planchets and 6,000 medals on thin silver planchets, the Philadelphia Mint delivered 100 medals on gold planchets. All of these pieces were probably struck in early May 1925. The gold medals were produced as matte proofs and sold to the public at a price of $20 each. Anthony Swiatek wrote a complete history of the Norse American commemorative medals in the June 1982 issue of The Numismatist. (#9452)"

I would appreciate any leads on how to find/read that June 1982 Numismatist article.

Anyways ... I purchased the following ANACS EF40 Norse Thick Medal for my collection ... wondering how in the world did a medal get into circulated condition.

Medal in Slab:



Obverse and Reverse:




That Norse fella on the obverse sure is a mean looking dude.

Appreciate any and all leads to the further history of this 1925 Medal ... for example ... who designed it?

Enjoy

David