1892 Medal Eglit-38 Aluminum World's Fair Illinois

Coin Details

Description

This 1892 aluminum medal, cataloged as Eglit-38 in Levine's reference, commemorates the World's Fair in Illinois and was produced during the preparatory year before the Exposition's May 1893 opening. The use of "World's Fair Illinois" in the medal's title emphasizes the state-level pride associated with hosting the great Columbian celebration — Chicago had competed fiercely against New York, Washington, and St. Louis for the honor of hosting the quadricentennial fair. Aluminum medals from 1892 are particularly interesting as artifacts of the period's enthusiasm for modern materials. Charles Martin Hall's 1886 discovery of the electrolytic aluminum reduction process had only recently made the metal commercially viable, and by 1892 it still commanded prices well above those of copper or tin alloys. An aluminum medal thus carried connotations of technological progress that aligned perfectly with the Exposition's themes of innovation and American industrial achievement. The Eglit-38 design is distinct from Eglit-37, though both are 1892-dated pieces from the pre-opening phase of the Columbian Exposition. Illinois took enormous civic pride in the fair, which transformed Chicago's reputation from a brash frontier city into a world-class cultural and architectural center. The State of Illinois Building at the fair itself was among the most elaborate of the state pavilions, reinforcing the host state's determination to make a lasting impression.

Rarity Notes

Aluminum medals from the pre-opening 1892 period are uncommon. The combination of early date and aluminum composition makes this piece scarcer than typical 1893-dated bronze or white metal souvenirs.

Cross References

Eglit-38; PCGS #671244