(1876) Bronze Medal GW-469, Liberty Bell

Coin Details

Description

This bronze medal, cataloged as GW-469, features a Liberty Bell design and was produced for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Centennial Exhibition, celebrating the hundredth anniversary of American independence, generated an enormous volume of commemorative medals, tokens, and souvenirs, many of which incorporated Washington's portrait alongside symbols of American liberty and progress. The Liberty Bell had been adopted as a potent symbol of the Revolution and was prominently displayed at the Exhibition in Independence Hall. This medal combines Washington's portrait with the Bell imagery, connecting the father of the nation with the iconic symbol of the liberty he helped secure. The 1876 Centennial was a watershed moment in American commemorative medal production, as the exhibition attracted millions of visitors who purchased medals and tokens as souvenirs of their visit. Philadelphia's established medal-making industry, including firms like William Barber's Mint engraving department and private manufacturers, produced hundreds of distinct Centennial medal varieties to meet this unprecedented demand.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce. Centennial medals exist in large numbers of varieties, but individual types like GW-469 in bronze are not abundant. The connection to the 1876 Exhibition ensures steady collector interest.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-469; PCGS #930565