1925 Medal Die Trial - Norse American

Coin Details

Auction Record

$18,213 AU55BN 01-04-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

This die trial was produced from the dies of the 1925 Norse American Medal, a commemorative piece celebrating the arrival of the ship Restaurationen in New York Harbor in 1825, carrying the first organized group of Norwegian immigrants to the United States. The centennial of this voyage was marked by extensive celebrations in the Norwegian-American community, and the Norse American Medal was produced as a centerpiece of these observances. The medal was designed by James Earle Fraser, one of America's most accomplished sculptors and the designer of the Buffalo nickel, working with Norwegian-born artist Frary Njos. The obverse features a Viking ship under sail, evoking the Norse seafaring tradition, while the reverse depicts a Viking warrior figure. The medal was produced in both thick and thin planchet varieties, and approximately 35,000 were distributed in silver. This die trial precedes that production run, created to test the dies before committing to the full silver striking. Die trials of commemorative medals are uncommon because medal production was typically a lower priority than coin production, and test pieces were less to be preserved. The Norse American Medal occupies an interesting position in numismatics — while not legal tender, it was produced with the same care and artistry as official commemorative coins.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Die trials of the Norse American Medal are seldom encountered, as most production focus was on the silver medals for public distribution.

Cross References

Norse American Medal (1925)