(c.1872) Bronze Medal J-CM-13, 51mm Chicago Fire

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,680 MS66BN 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronze medal at 51mm, cataloged as J-CM-13, commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871, one of the most devastating urban disasters in American history. The fire destroyed approximately 3.3 square miles of the city, killed an estimated 300 people, left 100,000 homeless, and consumed $200 million in property — roughly one-third of the city's total value. The 51mm format provides substantial space for detailed depictions of the conflagration and its aftermath. The J-CM-13 Julian designation indicates U.S. Mint production or affiliation. The medal commemorated both the destruction and the remarkable rebuilding effort that followed — Chicago rose from the ashes with extraordinary speed, adopting fire-resistant construction methods and innovative urban planning that made it one of the world's great architectural cities. The "circa 1872" dating indicates the medal was produced shortly after the disaster, while the memory was still raw and the rebuilding was just beginning.

Rarity Notes

J-CM-13, bronze 51mm. Great Chicago Fire commemorative, c. 1872. Historically significant. Limited production.

Cross References

PCGS #784647; Julian CM-13; Chicago Fire Medal, Bronze 51mm; October 8-10, 1871