Heritage World Coin Auctions
CCE Signature Sale 3064 20-21 Apr 2018
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France
Republic gold Universal Exposition Award Medal 1878 AU Details (Edge Damage, Cleaned) NGC, Paris mint. 68mm/227.01g. Edge: (Bee). By J.C. Chaplain. A massive gold medal (with approximately 6.5 ounces of gold if produced in typical 90% gold standard), awarded to Philadelphia-based brewer Bergner & Engel, who won first-prize for their beer at the 1876 Centennial Exposition as well as the 1878 Universal Exposition in Paris. One of the largest American breweries at the time, Bergner & Engel was internationally renowned, but ultimately didn't survive the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment, also known as Prohibition, which banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933. This medal, as one would expect from the artistically-gifted French engravers of the period, is superbly designed, with a bold representation of Liberty in high-relief on the front and allegorical Fame and a cherub who holds the name banner of the winners over a Paris city-view on the reverse. The aforementioned cleaning is rather light, with a few scattered ticks from handling visible on both sides. While only slightly visible in the holder, a rim bruise is evident near 9 o'clock and we presume this is what NGC has determined to be "Edge Damage". Even with its imperfections, still a rather pleasing piece, and given its ever-popular brewing history tie-in, an item that should pique the interest of many.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 9000-10000 USD
Republic gold Universal Exposition Award Medal 1878 AU Details (Edge Damage, Cleaned) NGC, Paris mint. 68mm/227.01g. Edge: (Bee). By J.C. Chaplain. A massive gold medal (with approximately 6.5 ounces of gold if produced in typical 90% gold standard), awarded to Philadelphia-based brewer Bergner & Engel, who won first-prize for their beer at the 1876 Centennial Exposition as well as the 1878 Universal Exposition in Paris. One of the largest American breweries at the time, Bergner & Engel was internationally renowned, but ultimately didn't survive the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment, also known as Prohibition, which banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933. This medal, as one would expect from the artistically-gifted French engravers of the period, is superbly designed, with a bold representation of Liberty in high-relief on the front and allegorical Fame and a cherub who holds the name banner of the winners over a Paris city-view on the reverse. The aforementioned cleaning is rather light, with a few scattered ticks from handling visible on both sides. While only slightly visible in the holder, a rim bruise is evident near 9 o'clock and we presume this is what NGC has determined to be "Edge Damage". Even with its imperfections, still a rather pleasing piece, and given its ever-popular brewing history tie-in, an item that should pique the interest of many.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 9000-10000 USD