1937 Medal Eglit-439 Brass, Chicago C.D. Peacock Centennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$81 MS65 03-17-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1937 brass medal, cataloged as Eglit-439, was produced for the centennial celebration of C.D. Peacock, Chicago's premier jeweler. While its Eglit catalog number places it within the World's Columbian Exposition reference, this piece actually commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Peacock jewelry establishment, founded in 1837 by Elijah Peacock and named for his brother Charles Daniel Peacock, who later took over the business. The Peacock store at State and Monroe Streets was a Chicago institution for over 150 years. The connection to the Eglit catalog stems from Peacock's significant involvement with the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, where the firm served as one of Chicago's most prominent purveyors of luxury souvenirs and commemorative items. Peacock's produced or commissioned WCE medals during the fair era, establishing a historical association that led Levine to include this later centennial piece in his catalog as a related issue. The brass composition is appropriate for a promotional or commemorative piece from a retail establishment. C.D. Peacock occupied an iconic position in Chicago retail culture, comparable to Tiffany's in New York. The store survived multiple Chicago transformations — from the Great Fire of 1871 through the Columbian Exposition era and beyond — before ultimately closing in 1999 after 162 years of continuous operation, making this centennial medal a relic of a now-vanished Chicago landmark.

Rarity Notes

Scarce retail commemorative medal. Production was limited to distribution through the C.D. Peacock store and to its clientele. The 1937 date places this well after the main WCE medal production period, and collectors of WCE medals may overlook this later issue.

Cross References

Eglit-439; PCGS #783672; C.D. Peacock Centennial, Chicago