1892-93 Medal Elgit-113 Aluminum World's Columbian Expo

Coin Details

Description

This aluminum medal dated 1892-93, listed as Elgit-113 (alternate spelling of Eglit), was produced for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The dual date spans the full period of the Columbian celebration, and the aluminum composition connects this piece to the broader tradition of using novel metals for exposition souvenirs. The Eglit-113 design is one of the many distinct types that populate the extensive WCE medal catalog. The World's Columbian Exposition was a catalyst for aluminum's popularization in American consumer culture. The metal appeared not only in souvenir medals but also in the Exposition's industrial exhibits, where aluminum manufacturers demonstrated everything from cooking utensils to decorative objects made from the lightweight silver-colored metal. For many fairgoers, handling an aluminum medal was their first encounter with the material. Medals with the alternate "Elgit" spelling in their PCGS titles reflect the historical variability in how Levine's catalog reference has been cited over the decades. Both "Eglit" and "Elgit" refer to the same catalog system — H. Joseph Levine's classification of World's Columbian Exposition medals. The correct spelling is "Eglit," but the alternate form appears frequently enough in auction catalogs and dealer descriptions to have become an established variant.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce aluminum medal with dual 1892-93 dating. Aluminum WCE medals are less common than bronze or white metal equivalents. The lightweight metal is prone to surface marks and denting.

Cross References

Eglit-113 (also spelled Elgit-113); PCGS #620664