Owner Comments:
MEDAL APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
*Choice example of this interesting Colorado issue — Nearly flawless with absolutely exceptional eye-appeal - Sharp strike boasting lustrous surfaces.*
MEDAL BACKGROUND:
Issued by the ‘Colorado Centennial-Bicentennial Committee' to commemorate Colorado's centennial, as well as to recognize Green Russell's discovery of gold in Dry Creek on the site of Englewood. (Unique piece to me personally because I lived off the major street of "Dry Creek" in the city of "Englewood, Colorado” for many years.)
RARITY: Unknown; Likely common-scare - I have seen a number of examples being sold.
MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
(Brass-Colored Plastic, 39mm, Round, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Colorado / 1876 1976 / July 7 / 1858 / Green Russell / Finds Gold / in Dry Creek / on Site of / Englewood / Centennial / (Image of Green Russell Panning for Gold)
REVERSE: Centennial-Bicentennial Committee / Englewood, Colorado / (Image of a Trolley-Car Named "Cherrhlyn")
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
"William Greeneberry "Green" Russell and his team eventually began an expedition in the Cherry Creek region of Colorado and the South Platte on May 23, 1858. The site of their initial explorations is in present-day Confluence Park in Denver. They began prospecting in the river beds, exploring Cherry Creek and nearby Ralston Creek but without success. After twenty days, several decided to return home, leaving the Russell brothers and ten other men behind. In the first week of July 1858, Green Russell and Sam Bates found a small placer deposit near the mouth of Little Dry Creek that yielded about 20 troy ounces (600 grams) of gold, the first significant gold discovery in the Rocky Mountain region." — Credited Source: Ovando J. Hollister, The Mines of Colorado, originally published 1867, reprinted New York: Promontory Press