1915 Medal Pan-Pac Expo Bronze 70mmSan Francisco

Coin Details

Auction Record

$90 PR65 06-13-2018 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

The 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition bronze medal at 70mm from San Francisco is one of the large-format commemoratives produced for the world's fair. At nearly three inches in diameter, this substantial bronze piece provided a generous canvas for detailed sculptural compositions celebrating the exposition's dual themes — the completion of the Panama Canal and the rebirth of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. The 70mm format was reserved for premium commemorative medals, often produced by established firms such as the Medallic Art Company or Whitehead & Hoag. Medals of this size were typically sold in presentation cases or boxes and marketed as substantial keepsakes worthy of display. The bronze composition and large diameter give the piece a satisfying heft that reinforces its commemorative gravitas. The obverse and reverse designs at this scale could incorporate complex multi-figure compositions, architectural panoramas, and extensive inscriptional text. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a defining cultural event of early twentieth-century America. Beyond its official commemorative coinage — which included the famous $50 gold round and octagonal pieces, along with gold dollars, quarter eagles, and half dollars — the exposition spawned one of the most extensive series of privately produced medals, tokens, and badges in American numismatic history. Collectors of exposition numismatics have cataloged hundreds of distinct types from the 1915 fair, making it one of the most thoroughly documented events in the field.

Rarity Notes

Large-format (70mm) bronze exposition medals were produced in smaller quantities than standard-size pieces. The size and weight made these premium souvenirs with correspondingly higher original retail prices and lower survival rates.

Cross References

PCGS #541999; Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco 1915