1898 Medal Belden-36 Copper Port of New York

Coin Details

Description

This 1898 copper medal, cataloged as Belden-36, commemorates the Port of New York. The Belden catalog documents New York-related medals. New York's port was the busiest in the United States, handling the majority of imported and exported goods. The 1898 date coincides with the Spanish-American War period when naval and commercial maritime activity was heightened. Port medals were produced for harbor events, naval reviews, or commercial celebrations. The medallic commemorative tradition in America accelerated during the centennial celebrations of the late nineteenth century, with the 1876 Centennial Exposition generating an unprecedented number of medallic issues. Advanced medal collectors often pursue thematic collections organized around specific subjects, time periods, manufacturers, or medalists, creating focused holdings that illuminate particular aspects of American commemorative culture. The copper composition was standard for broadly distributed commemoratives.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Belden-36, copper. Port of New York medal, 1898.

Cross References

PCGS #606688; Belden-36; Port of New York; Copper; 1898