1925 Silver Medal Norse American, Thin

Coin Details

Auction Record

$19,388 MS66 04-27-2016 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1925 Norse American thin silver medal is the standard-thickness version of the centennial commemorative honoring Norwegian immigration to the United States. This thin format was produced in larger quantities than the thick variety, making it the more commonly encountered version in the numismatic market. Both versions share the same James Earle Fraser designs and 35mm diameter, differing only in the thickness of the planchet and consequently the weight. The obverse depicts Fraser's masterful Viking ship under sail, a design that captures both the seafaring tradition of the Norse people and the spirit of adventure that drove Norwegian emigrants to seek new lives in America. The level of detail in the ship's rigging, hull planking, and wave patterns demonstrates Fraser's exceptional abilities as a relief sculptor. The reverse shows a kneeling Viking warrior with shield and helmet, a romantic evocation of the medieval explorers who preceded the nineteenth-century immigrants by several centuries. The Norse-American Centennial celebration in Minneapolis in June 1925 was one of the largest ethnic heritage events in American history, reflecting the enormous Norwegian-American community that had developed in Minnesota and the upper Midwest over the preceding century. By 1925, over 800,000 Norwegian-born immigrants and their descendants lived in the United States, with Minneapolis serving as an unofficial capital of Norwegian America. The medal served as both a commemoration of the centennial and a celebration of the community's contributions to American life.

Rarity Notes

The thin variety was produced in larger quantities than the thick and is more readily available. Still actively collected as one of the premier American commemorative medals of the twentieth century. Condition is important to value.

Cross References

PCGS #9451; NGC #722004; Norse-American Centennial 1825-1925; designer James Earle Fraser