1892 Medal Elgit-101 Copper World's Columbian Expo

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS64 08-22-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1892 copper medal, listed as Elgit-101 (alternate spelling of Eglit), is the plain copper version of one of the most widely produced designs in the World's Columbian Exposition medal series. Copper provided a warm reddish-gold appearance when freshly struck, darkening over time to the deep brown tones that collectors associate with well-aged 19th-century medals. The distinction between "copper" and "bronze" in medal descriptions can be subtle — pure copper is softer and redder, while bronze (a copper-tin alloy) is harder and more golden-brown. The Eglit-101 design's production across so many metals — copper, bronze, aluminum, silver-plated copper, and the 90mm bronze showpiece — makes it a microcosm of the broader WCE souvenir medal industry. Private manufacturers treated popular designs as franchise opportunities, maximizing revenue by offering the same image in every available composition and size. The underlying economics were straightforward: die cutting was the major fixed cost, while striking medals in different metals added only marginal variable cost. Copper medals from this era generally survive well due to the metal's resistance to corrosion, though they are susceptible to developing verdigris (green copper carbonate) if stored in humid conditions. The 1892 date indicates production during the pre-opening period, when anticipation for the Exposition was building across the nation.

Rarity Notes

Common base-metal version of the Eglit-101 design. Copper examples survive in good numbers and are among the most affordable ways to acquire this popular WCE design type. Look for specimens with original red-brown surfaces.

Cross References

Eglit-101 (also spelled Elgit-101); PCGS #619584