1893 Proof Hawaiian Medal - 2MH-3, Reginald Huth, Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$49,200 PR62 05-12-2024 Heritage Auctions

Description

The Reginald Huth Medal cataloged as Medcalf-Russell 2MH-3 is a silver proof medal that occupies a distinct position within the Huth commemorative series. Numbered between the gold double eagle (2MH-2) and the dollar-sized medals (2MH-4 and 2MH-5), the 2MH-3 may represent a different denomination level, design variant, or size format within the comprehensive program that Huth commissioned to mark the momentous events of 1893-1895 in Hawaii. The silver proof striking and its strong auction performance — $49,200 in PR62 condition at Heritage Auctions in 2024 — confirm this as a major piece within the Huth program. The 2024 sale date makes this one of the most recently traded Huth medals on record, providing current market evidence for the enduring and growing demand for rare Hawaiian numismatic items. The Huth medal series, taken as a complete program from the gold 2MH-2 through the iron 2MH-5C, represents one of the most ambitious private medallic commissions in Pacific numismatic history. The range of compositions (gold, silver, copper, iron), the multiple design variants, and the extremely limited mintages all point to a sophisticated numismatic sensibility on the part of the commissioner. Whether Reginald Huth was a royalist sympathizer memorializing the fallen monarchy, a republican celebrating the new order, or simply a businessman seizing a commercial opportunity remains a subject of research. The medals themselves transcend partisan politics to become enduring works of numismatic art.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Silver proof medal with limited mintage. The 2024 Heritage Auctions result of $49,200 in PR62 demonstrates strong collector demand.

Cross References

Medcalf-Russell 2MH-3; PCGS #509649; Reginald Huth Hawaiian medal series; Silver proof