Watch List notes:

FRANCE. Exposition Universelle Internationale Silver Award Medal, 1900. Paris Mint. CHOICE UNCIRCULATED.
63.6mm; 110.57 gms. By J. C. Chaplain. Embossed and awarded to W. Sims. Obverse: Head of Marianne right, wearing Phrygian cap and oak wreath; oak tree in background to right, partial veduta of Paris at a distance to right; Reverse: EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE, Victory flying left, head upturned, holding wreath and bearing on her back the seated figure of Progress, holding torch; view of the exposition buildings and grounds to lower left; below, decorative plaque embossed "W. SIMS." Edge: [cornucopia hallmark] ARGENT. Gunmetal gray surfaces with an alluring matte nature. An iconic rendering of Art Nouveau in medallic form.

It is uncertain what caused Sims to receive this award, but the recipient must undoubtedly be Lt. (later Rear Adm.) William Sims, who was pivotal in the American naval intelligence operation against Spain during the Spanish-American War. Leading these efforts from Paris at the time, he then remained in the French capital "to supervise the installation of American art at the 1900 Paris World's Fair (Collin, 2000, p. 131)." His role likely garnered him this award out of appreciation for his efforts. He would play a much larger role not long after, however, as it was Sims who successfully (eventually) fought for modernization in the U.S. Navy. After an encounter with a British Admiral whereupon he viewed their use of "continuous aim" gunfire while at sea, Sims inquired about such technology from the allies. Seeing first hand the increased effectiveness, he then approached the U.S. Navy with the newly discovered tactics, hoping to bring about these much needed changes. He was quickly and repeatedly dismissed and ridiculed. It was only after he beseeched President Theodore Roosevelt himself that the Navy was compelled to take up his suggestions, which were then rather swiftly enacted. After the U.S. entered World War I, Sims was sent to London in order to act as the senior naval representative. By war's end, he was commanding all U.S. naval forces operating in Europe. His book published shortly thereafter, chronicling his experiences during WWI and entitled The Victory at Sea, won the Pulitzer Prize in History for 1921.

Read more about this item in our Coin of the Week blog post, here.

Reference: Collin, Richard H. "Symbiosis versus Hegemony: New Directions in the Foreign Relations Historiography of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft." Paths to Power: The Historiography of American Foreign Relations to 1941, edited by Michael J. Hogan, Cambridge University Press, 2000, pp. 117-147.

From the Provence Collection of French Art Medals.

Estimate: $200.00- $400.00