Owner Comments:
Copper is the rarest variety and there are only 8 Red Brown’s graded finer. Very attractive red in the fields, shimmering prooflike. Official Medal from the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri. The obverse features the busts of Jefferson and Napoleon. The reverse features a relief map of the U.S. with a star marking the location of St. Louis, MO. This medal was struck at the mint exhibit at the exposition and sold as a souvenir in 1904. Struck in Copper. Very rare in Copper.
Purpose: To commemorate 100th anniversary of Louisiana Purchase, "second in importance in nation's development only to American Revolution."
THESE ST. LOUIS WORLDS FAIR OFFICIAL MEDALS ARE RATHER COMMON IN OTHER METALS, BUT QUITE RARE IN COPPER. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF (61) OF THIS MEDAL TYPE LISTED IN THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 8/2023 IN COPPER, WITH ONLY (20) WITH A RED/BROWN DESIGNATION. THIS EXAMPLE IS AS CLOSE TO A RED DESIGNATION AS I HAVE SEEN OF THIS TYPE. THERE ARE NONE OF THIS TYPE GIVEN A RD DESIGNATION BY NGC TO DATE.
A MS 66 RB EXAMPLE GRADED BY PCGS SOLD FOR $660.00 BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2019.
MICHAEL KITTLE HAD A MS 65 BN EXAMPLE ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $525.00 THAT APPARENTLY SOLD, IT IS NO LONGER LISTED.
Provenance: From the Collections of The Strong, Rochester, New York; sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund; originally collected by John Charles Woodbury (1859-1937). Official Souvenir medals struck in Mint Exhibit on grounds.