Owner Comments:
ONLY (11) MS 66'S LISTED AS FINER OF THIS TYPE IN THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 8/2023. VERY LOW SERIAL #957 OF 25,000 MADE.
A MS 65 EXAMPLE WITH SERIAL #36 WAS SOLD ON EBAY IN MAY 2023 FOR $800.00.
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). Very low serial #957 on this medal.
On Aug. 3, 1914 Panama Railroad Steamship Cristobal completed first ocean-to-ocean passage through Canal and carried 50,000 of these medals, consecutively numbered, representing entire issue.
As early as 1517-1529, surveys had been made for canal across Isthmus of Panama but Spaniards continued to sail 8,000 miles around South America or to haul gold and cargos on stone highways across Isthmus. Beginning 1880, two French ventures failed at cost of $300,000,000. Following our purchase of French rights, rebellion and secession by Panama from Colombia in 1903 and our intervention and guarantee of Panama's independence, Canal Zone granted to U.S. in perpetuity; ratified 1904. Ten years and $340,000,000 later, Canal was opened formally Aug. 15, 1914. Panama Canal Treaty (Torrijos-Carter Treaty), signed Sept. 7, 1977, "relinquishes American control over the canal by the year 2000 and guarantees its neutrality." Canal fully transferred to the Republic of Panama on Dec. 31, 1999.
Medal design suggested by Miss Elizabeth Rodman, cousin of Capt. Hugh Rodman, U.S.N., Supt. of Transportation, Canal Zone; struck by John F. Newman Co., New York. Disposition of issue, following passage through Canal, is not known.
The first vessel passing through the Panama Canal on August 3, 1914 carried a reported 50,000 of these metals, consecutively numbered. The completion of the Panama Canal was a cause for celebrations worldwide. On the 100th anniversary in 2015, that event was re-created as similar commemorative medals were carried through the Panama Canal.