Owner Comments:
THERE ARE ONLY A TOTAL OF (34) GRADED OF THIS TYPE WITH ONLY (10) FINER IN THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 8/2023. THIS IS ONE OF THE RARER STATE FUND EXAMPLES FROM THE PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION.
JEFF SHEVLIN RECENTLY SOLD AN NGC GRADED AU 55 ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $195.00.
JEFF SHEVLIN HAD AN NGC GRADED MS 63 BN IN ONE OF HIS PRICE LISTS FOR $545.00.
AN NGC GRADED MS 64 EXAMPLE WAS SOLD BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2020 FOR $480.00.
Purpose: To celebrate opening of Panama Canal; to commemorate 400th anniversary of discovery of Pacific Ocean; to celebrate rebuilding of San Francisco following 1906 earthquake and fire.
Several states issued medals in advance of exposition as one means of raising funds for exhibition purposes; usually sold for $1. Except for Arkansas' Aluminum piece, all were Bronze; some silver-plated officially, others privately. Arkansas medal presented to "home folks and notable visitors"; Maryland's distributed on Maryland Day to officials and others.
The South Carolina State seal, which was adopted in 1776, adorns the obverse. The common reverse features a ship with large sails passing through the Panama Canal with rays of light emanating behind the ship, legend above “The Land Divided”, below “The World United”. Some are edge marked Robbins Co., Attleboro on edge at 12:00, some are not edge marked.