1876 Bronze Medal J-CM-11, U.S. Centennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS65BN 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1876 bronze medal, cataloged as J-CM-11, commemorates the United States Centennial — the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, celebrated at the landmark Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia. The exhibition, held in Fairmount Park, was the first official World's Fair hosted by the United States and attracted nearly ten million visitors over six months. The J-CM-11 catalog number identifies this as one of the primary official medals of the Centennial celebration. The bronze composition was standard for the most widely distributed version, ensuring the broadest possible public access to the commemorative. The 1876 Centennial was a transformative event in American numismatics, sparking a surge of interest in coin collecting. The exhibition showcased American technological achievements — including Alexander Graham Bell's telephone and the massive Corliss steam engine — alongside international displays, and the official Centennial medal became the most recognizable souvenir of the celebration.

Rarity Notes

J-CM-11, bronze composition. U.S. Centennial 1876. Relatively available due to large original production.

Cross References

PCGS #521521; Julian CM-11; U.S. Centennial Medal, Bronze; 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition