(1825) Medal Erie Canal Completion 81mm Laughlin-280 Pewter

Coin Details

Description

This 1825 pewter medal at 81mm diameter, cataloged as Laughlin-280, commemorates the completion of the Erie Canal, one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in American history. The Erie Canal, completed on October 26, 1825, connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via a 363-mile waterway across New York State, dramatically reducing transportation costs and opening the American interior to commerce and settlement. The Laughlin-280 catalog reference places this within the standard reference for Erie Canal medals. The large 81mm format and pewter composition made this an impressive commemorative suitable for display. Governor DeWitt Clinton, the driving force behind the canal, celebrated its opening by pouring water from Lake Erie into the Atlantic at New York Harbor in the famous "Wedding of the Waters" ceremony. The canal transformed New York City into the nation's commercial capital and spurred the canal-building era that preceded the railroad revolution.

Rarity Notes

Laughlin-280, pewter 81mm. Erie Canal completion 1825. Large format display piece. Scarce in well-preserved condition.

Cross References

PCGS #528883; Laughlin-280; Erie Canal Completion Medal, Pewter 81mm; October 26, 1825