1882 Bronze Medal J-CM-20, Great Seal

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,080 MS66BN 01-24-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This bronze medal, cataloged as J-CM-20, commemorates the Great Seal of the United States with an 1882 date coinciding with the centennial of the Seal's adoption on June 20, 1782. The "AE" designation confirms the standard bronze composition. The J-CM-20 Julian number identifies a specific die variety of the Great Seal centennial medal, distinct from other 1882 medal families. The Great Seal medal features the familiar eagle-shield-arrows-olive branch design that has served as the official emblem of the United States for nearly 250 years. The centennial prompted both new strikings and historical reflection on the six-year design process involving Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and ultimately Charles Thomson and William Barton, whose combined contributions produced one of the world's most recognized national symbols. This medal preserves in metallic form the centennial celebration of the emblem that appears on the one-dollar bill, American passports, and countless official documents.

Rarity Notes

J-CM-20, bronze (AE) composition. Great Seal Centennial 1882. Specific die variety.

Cross References

PCGS #528898; Julian CM-20; Great Seal Medal, Bronze; 1882 Centennial