Lot 3228
1925. Norse America Centennial Thick and Thin Silver Medals. Possible Matte Proofs. We note that the thick specimen exhibits a partial circular die cut around the outside borders on both sides. We have sent these specimens to both PCGS and NGC and neither service could positively determine these as Proofs. They have medium gray sandblast finish on both sides. The thick specimen exhibits a partial circular die cutter's line around the outside border. No one has ever seen this line on another piece.
The Norse-American medals commemorated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Norwegian settlers in Orleans County, New York on October 9, 1825. Their ship was the sloop Restauration.
It was originally anticipated that a commemorative half dollar would be struck to commemorate the event, but this legislation did not pass Congressional muster, and medals were struck instead in silver and gold at the Philadelphia Mint. Recognizing the semi-commemorative status, Wayte Raymond in his "National" holders provided spaces for the 1925 medals, thus making them popular to a generation of collectors. The medals were struck by authorization of the 68th Congress with a mintage of no more than 40,000 in silver, of which the Thick Planchet type amounted to 33,750 pieces. The obverse depicts the Eleventh Century explorer Leif Ericsson, and the reverse depicts a Viking war boat. These Norse medals have been very popular with U.S. commemorative collectors.
The Philadelphia Mint delivered 100 gold medals commemorating the same event. These were produced as Matte Proofs, with a similar Sand-Blast finish as the silver specimens offered here. The gold medals were sold to the public at a price of $20 each. Today, specimens in gold are rare, and advanced collectors traditionally include them in sets of U.S. Commemorative coins. Until recently, no one thought of the possibility of there being Matte Proof silver medals struck on Thick and Thin planchets. That individual examples with a Matte or Sand-Blast Proof finish do exist caused a stir when they were first exhibited in the summer of 2007. Noted specialist in the Norse-American series, William Swoger, having inspected the two medals in this lot at the time, wrote us a letter dated October 26, 2007, in which he says the following: "I will also picture the an [sic] obverse and reverse of these pieces in my book, The National Commemorative Medals of the United States of America since 1873…" In another paragraph, he adds, "I believe that the two medals can bring $10,000 to $20,000 more if I can convincingly prove their authenticity."
Could these two Matte or Sand-Blast Proofs be part of the original mintage set aside by one of the members of The Centennial Commission, or given in recognition? It is known the Commission retained first strikings of the silver and gold types. Additionally, it is known that Congressman O.J. Kvale, whose proposal it was to have them made, received gold medal number two, the second piece struck, in recognition of his services to the commission.
Comparison of the medals with the regular Mint State examples shows several key differences. First, the Thick medal has what appears to be dramatic die-doubling on the obverse, most notable on the legend NORSE AMERICAN CENTENNIAL at top and on Ericson's legs and feet. Those who have studied this thick medal say they have never heard of another such piece with die-doubling. Second, both medals are finished in strong granular sand-blast finish with deep gray "antiquing" applied at the time they were made. Notable too is the extremely sharp relief of all details such as the horns on Ericson's helmet, and the crisp delineation of the oars on the bots on both sides. The edges are also unusually sharp and "squared off" as though the medals received more than the customary single blow the coinage dies. No Archival records have surfaced describing these unusual pieces, but in time this may happen. These Norse medals have been very popular with U.S. commemorative collectors and the sale of these possible Matte Proofs should see active bidding. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 7,500.
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