1893 Medal - Eglit-7A New South Wales Court Struck on 1876

Coin Details

Auction Record

$335 XF45 03-12-2023 eBay

Description

This 1893 medal, cataloged as Eglit-7A, is a remarkable piece from the New South Wales Court at the World's Columbian Exposition, struck over an 1876-dated host piece. The New South Wales Court represented the Australian colony's participation in the Chicago fair, showcasing the region's mining, agricultural, and industrial products to an international audience. New South Wales was Australia's oldest and most populous colony in 1893, not yet part of the Commonwealth of Australia that would be established in 1901. The overstrike on an 1876 piece adds a layer of numismatic complexity. The 1876 host piece was a medal from the Centennial International Exhibition held in Philadelphia that year — America's first major world's fair, celebrating the nation's 100th birthday. If so, this medal represents a physical link between two of the 19th century's most significant expositions, with the 1876 Philadelphia centennial piece repurposed seventeen years later to carry new Columbian Exposition imagery. The Eglit-7A designation with the "A" suffix indicates this is a variety within the broader Eglit-7 type, specifically identified by its host piece. Australian-origin medals from the Columbian Exposition are uncommon in the American market and appeal to collectors interested in the international dimensions of the 1893 fair. New South Wales sent a substantial delegation to Chicago, reflecting the colony's desire to attract British and American investment to its expanding economy.

Rarity Notes

Rare overstrike variety from the New South Wales Court. Australian-origin WCE medals are scarce in American collections. The overstrike on an 1876 host piece makes this a particularly unusual and historically layered item.

Cross References

Eglit-7A; PCGS #914883; New South Wales Court, World's Columbian Exposition; overstrike on 1876 host