Lot 120
1836 Steam Coinage Medal Mint Restrike. MS-65. Weight 170.0 grains; diameter 28.0 millimeters. Frosty light golden tan. The strike is sharp and the finish has a sandblast appearance, indicative of pieces struck following 1901. This medal was struck to commemorate the first use of steam power to operate the coining presses in the Philadelphia Mint in 1836. Our mint wanted to introduce steam powered coinage presses as early as 1797, but the change was delayed until 1836 when the demand for coins outpaced the mint's capacity to strike them using human-powered screw presses. The original medals were struck in March of 1836 to test these new presses before using them to strike coins, which didn't begin in earnest until November of that year. Large cent planchets were used for the original medals. An example is included here because half cents also benefitted from the introduction of steam powered presses, although only proof half cents were struck until 1849.
Estimated Value $40 - 50.
Ex: Rod Burress 5/12/90.
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| Realized $207 |
