In a previous post, I offered a few thoughts about the 1925 Norse-American Centennial medals (
http://goccf.com/t/120080. In that post, I included images of my MS-64 Norse medal (Thick Variety). I was able to upgrade my "Thick" medal this past weekend while attending a coin show and thought I'd share it.
But first, a bit of background for those who might not be familiar with the medal.
The 1925 medals were sponsored by the Norse-American Centennial Commission to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first immigrant group from Norway in the United States. The ship in which they made the voyage, the
Restaurationen, arrived in New York in 1825.
Read More: Commems CollectionThe Norse medal is the work of noted sculptor
James Earle Fraser; James would soon partner with his wife,
Laura Gardin Fraser, to create designs for the Oregon Trail Memorial Association commemorative half dollar (issued in 1926). The obverse features "a Viking chieftain setting foot on American soil with a Viking ship in the background." On the reverse is seen "a Viking ship under full sail." (The preceding obverse/reverse descriptions are taken from the souvenir program for the celebration that was held in Minneapolis, MN in 1825.)
The medal was struck by the US Mint; many collectors of the classic series of US commemorative coins include at least one variety of the medal as part of their commemorative set. (For more details on the varieties and their mintages, follow the link above.)
It's interesting to note how neither the obverse nor reverse design of the medal calls to mind the Norse immigrants of 1825. True, the medal features the dual "1825-1925" dates and the inscription "Norse American Centennial," but the primary design elements recall a much earlier time when Norse sailors (most notably, Leif Eriksson) are believed to have sailed across the North Atlantic and landed in areas that would later become part of Canada.
The medal shown is fully brilliant with wonderful cartwheel luster (don't be fooled by my somewhat inaccurate scans!). Its "mint fresh" brilliance indicates that it has been dipped at some point in its past, but likely only a time or two as the medal's luster has not been dulled or muted. The piece still has exceptional bloom and "life" to it vs. the dull/flat look that is exhibited by a coin/medal that has been dipped to excess.
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For those unfamiliar with what creates cartwheel luster on a coin or medal: When a coin/medal is struck, the pressure exerted on the planchet by the dies causes metal to flow outward from the center to the piece's edge. The lines created by this radial flow reflect light when a coin/medal is held and rocked back and forth. These reflections result in what appears to be a band of light that moves around the coin - this is called the "cartwheel" luster effect.
When a coin is dipped in an acidic solution to remove its toning, it also loses a bit of its metal. After too many dips, the metal loss disturbs the radial flow lines in the metal and the piece's luster is negatively impacted. Once these delicate lines are gone (or nearly gone), so is much/all of its original luster and the appearance of the coin/medal becomes flat and "lifeless."
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My MS-64 piece is an attractive example of the medal, but this piece is a noticeable upgrade. The surfaces are a bit cleaner and the bloom of the luster gives the piece much more of a "Wow!" factor. I have long planned an upgrade for the medal, but only when the right piece came along. I don't upgrade based on technical grade alone, I only make an upgrade when I find a piece that is a clear upgrade in terms of grade AND visual aesthetics. I was pleased to find the medal shown here and consider it a true, "all things considered" upgrade.
1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal: Thick Variety - Obverse
1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal: Thick Variety - Reverse
Posted 06/30/2016 5:03 pm
