1865 Bronze Medal J-CM-45, King-501, Sanitary Fair

Coin Details

Auction Record

$456 SP64 10-30-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronze medal, cataloged as J-CM-45 and King-501, commemorates a Sanitary Fair held in 1865 during the final months of the Civil War. The "AE" designation confirms the standard bronze composition. Sanitary fairs were large-scale fundraising events organized by the United States Sanitary Commission, a civilian organization that provided medical care, hygiene supplies, and welfare services to Union soldiers throughout the war. These fairs, held in major cities across the North, raised millions of dollars through the sale of donated goods, art, and curiosities. The dual catalog references — Julian CM-45 and King-501 — indicate this medal is documented in both the standard Julian reference for commemorative medals and the King catalog of Civil War tokens and medals. The 1865 date places this near the war's end, when sanitary fairs were simultaneously celebrating approaching victory and continuing to fund care for the wounded veterans who would carry the war's physical toll for the rest of their lives.

Rarity Notes

J-CM-45 / King-501, bronze (AE) composition. Sanitary Fair 1865. Civil War relief organization. Limited production.

Cross References

PCGS #613451; Julian CM-45; King-501; Sanitary Fair Medal, Bronze; 1865; U.S. Sanitary Commission