(1826) Medal Erie Canal Completion Silver Edward Thomason

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal commemorates the completion of the Erie Canal, with the piece attributed to Edward Thomason and bearing the date 1826. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, was the most ambitious engineering project in American history to that point — a 363-mile waterway connecting the Hudson River at Albany to Lake Erie at Buffalo, cutting through the wilderness of upstate New York. The canal transformed American commerce by providing an efficient water route from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, reducing shipping costs by 95 percent and making New York City the nation's dominant commercial center. Edward Thomason was a prominent Birmingham, England medal manufacturer known for producing high-quality commemorative medals for international events. His involvement indicates that the Erie Canal's completion was recognized as a globally significant achievement. The silver composition marks this as a premium commemorative issue. The canal's grand opening celebration on October 26, 1825, featured the "Wedding of the Waters" ceremony in which Governor DeWitt Clinton poured a cask of Lake Erie water into New York Harbor.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver medals from the Edward Thomason series are produced in limited numbers and Erie Canal commemoratives have strong collector demand.

Cross References

PCGS #906964; Edward Thomason; Erie Canal Completion 1825