1892 Medal Eglit-37 Bronzed Bronze World's Columbian Expo

Coin Details

Auction Record

$900 MS65BN 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1892 bronzed copper medal, cataloged as Eglit-37 in Levine's World's Columbian Exposition reference, was produced in the year before the fair's public opening. The "bronzed" designation indicates that the copper medal received an artificial patina or surface treatment to give it the dark brown appearance associated with aged bronze, a common finishing technique for presentation-quality medals of this era. The distinction between "bronzed" and plain copper reflects the original manufacturing intent to produce a more refined appearance. The 1892 date on this piece connects it to the preparatory phase of the Columbian Exposition, when organizers, exhibitors, and manufacturers were actively producing promotional materials and souvenirs in advance of the May 1893 opening. Dedication ceremonies held on October 21, 1892, formally inaugurated the fairgrounds even though construction was far from complete. Medals bearing the 1892 date was produced for these ceremonies or for early promotional distribution. Eglit-37 is a distinct design from the Eglit-36 family, though both are part of the broader universe of Columbian Exposition commemorative medals. Levine's catalog organizes these pieces numerically, with each Eglit number representing a unique die combination, while letter suffixes denote compositional or die-state variants within each number.

Rarity Notes

Bronzed copper medals from 1892 are generally less common than their 1893 counterparts, as most souvenir production concentrated during the fair's operating months. The bronzed finish is susceptible to wear and environmental degradation.

Cross References

Eglit-37; PCGS #820354