1917 Medal Medallic Art Co. Catskill Aqueduct Completion Bronze

Coin Details

Description

This 1917 bronze medal by Medallic Art Company commemorates the completion of the Catskill Aqueduct, the companion piece to the general version in bronze composition. The Catskill Aqueduct was the second of three major aqueduct systems built to supply New York City with fresh water from upstate reservoirs, preceded by the Old Croton Aqueduct (1842) and followed by the Delaware Aqueduct (1944). The bronze composition and its specific identification as the bronze version distinguish it from other metal variants of the same commemorative design. At the time of its completion, the Catskill Aqueduct was among the largest water supply projects ever undertaken by a municipality, requiring the construction of massive reservoirs, tunnels bored through solid rock, and pressurized siphons crossing river valleys. Medallic Art Company's medal captures the civic pride that accompanied this engineering achievement, which ensured New York City's water supply for decades to come. The 1917 completion date coincided with American entry into World War I, and the aqueduct's completion was one of the last great peacetime public works celebrated before the nation turned its full attention to the war effort.

Rarity Notes

Bronze. Medallic Art Co. Catskill Aqueduct completion medal, bronze version. Infrastructure commemoratives. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #612828