1892 Bronze Medal Eglit-101 90mm World's Columbian Expo

Coin Details

Description

This 1892 bronze medal at a commanding 90 millimeters, cataloged as Eglit-101, is one of the largest and most impressive pieces in the World's Columbian Exposition medal series. At nearly 3.5 inches in diameter, this is unmistakably a display medal rather than a pocket souvenir, intended for placement in a collector's cabinet or presentation case. The 90mm format was reserved for the most ambitious designs that demanded substantial surface area to convey their artistic content. The Eglit-101 design was produced in an unusually wide range of compositions and sizes — the Levine catalog documents versions in bronze at 90mm and 36mm, in aluminum, in silver-plated copper, and in plain copper. This diversity of striking metals indicates that the Eglit-101 design was considered particularly successful and commercially viable, leading manufacturers to produce it across the full spectrum of available price points. Bronze at 90mm represents the heaviest and most substantial of the base-metal versions. A medal of this size in bronze would weigh several ounces, giving it a physical heft that reinforced its commemorative gravitas. The World's Columbian Exposition's legacy in the medal-collecting field is extraordinary — no previous or subsequent American world's fair generated so many distinct commemorative medal types, and large-format pieces like this 90mm bronze are among the most prized by serious WCE collectors.

Rarity Notes

Scarce in the large 90mm bronze format. Production of 90mm medals was inherently limited by cost and the specialized equipment required for striking at this size. Well-preserved examples with undamaged edges and original surfaces are uncommon.

Cross References

Eglit-101; PCGS #927651