1893 Proof Hawaiian Medal - 2MH-5C, Reginald Huth, Iron

Coin Details

Auction Record

$36,000 PR63 01-03-2018 Heritage Auctions

Description

The Reginald Huth Iron Medal cataloged as Medcalf-Russell 2MH-5C is the iron striking of the 2MH-5 design, produced in a mintage of just three pieces. Iron was an unusual choice for medallic production in this era, selected precisely for its rarity and distinctiveness as a compositional variant. The iron version completes a multi-metal striking program that included silver (30 pieces), copper (2 pieces), and iron (3 pieces). Iron medals present unique challenges for both production and preservation. Iron is considerably harder than copper or silver, requiring greater striking pressure to achieve a full impression from the dies. The resulting medals have a distinctive dark, steely appearance quite unlike any precious or base metal. However, iron is also highly susceptible to corrosion and rust, making long-term preservation difficult. The decision to produce iron strikings — alongside silver and copper — indicates that the commissioner was following the European medallic tradition of creating a comprehensive set of compositional variants for important issues. This practice was common among elite collectors in Europe, where medal collecting was considered a serious intellectual pursuit closely allied with history, art, and diplomacy. With only three pieces struck, the 2MH-5C is slightly more available than the copper variant but remains one of the great rarities in Hawaiian numismatics. The $36,000 auction price achieved in 2018 for a PR63 example confirms the intense collector demand for these Huth medal rarities.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Documented mintage of only 3 pieces. Iron composition makes preservation challenging.

Cross References

Medcalf-Russell 2MH-5C; PCGS #636890; Reginald Huth Hawaiian medal series; Mintage: 3; Iron striking