An 1893 German Columbian Exposition Medal

American Numismatic Society - The unaccountable lack of internet access at the annual World's Fair of Money has prevented us from posting more this week, but as we wrap things up here, I did want to highlight one particularly spectacular piece of Chicagoiana. This is a copper electrotype of a large (114 mm) medal that was designed by Fritz Koenig and struck by the Nürnberg firm Ludwig Christoph Lauer. The die is supposed to have broken after just a few medals were stuck and it is not listed in Nathan Eglit's Columbiana catalogue.



The obverse depicts a reclining female figure we suppose represents America (Columbia?) holding a U.S. shield. A heraldic eagle flies above, and behind is the famed Administration Building, which exemplified the neoclassical style of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. By far the more impressive side of the medal is the reverse, which depicts a bird's-eye view of the exposition grounds. The Rand McNally publishing company of Chicago printed a popular view of the same, although differences with Koenig's design suggest that he copied from a different source.

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