Owner Comments:
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.
THIS TYPE IS VERY RARE, AS THERE ARE ONLY (7) GIVEN A FULL NUMBER GRADE PER THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 7/2023, WITH (1) MS 62 BEING THE ONLY UNCIRCULATED EXAMPLE LISTED.
AN AU DETAILS EXAMPLE WITH HEAVY BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WAS SOLD FOR $600.00 BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2017. SOMEWHAT RARER WITH ATTACHED FOB AS SOME WERE MADE.
AN AU 55 NGC GRADED EXAMPLE SOLD FOR $504.00 BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS IN FEBRUARY 2022. THIS EXAMPLE WAS HOLED, SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A DETAILS GRADE. NONE OF THIS TYPE WERE HOLED WHEN MANUFACTURED, THEY WERE EITHER PLAIN OR WERE GIVEN THE FOB ATTACHMENT.
JEFF SHEVLIN HAS AN NGC GRADED AU DETAILS DAMAGED EXAMPLE LISTED FOR SALE ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $495.00. THIS EXAMPLE DOES NOT HAVE THE RARE ATTACHED FOB AS MINE DOES.
JEFF SHEVLIN'S NEW BOOK LISTS THIS MEDAL AS BEING COPPER PLATED BRONZE. I AGREE WITH THIS, AS THIS MEDAL WAS CONSERVED BY NGC WHEN IT WAS GRADED, AND SHOWS A LOT OF RED/BROWN COLORING AS A COPPER SURFACE WOULD VISUALLY LOOK LIKE.
The Kentucky State seal is on the obverse, microscopic signature Robbins Co Attleboro near the bottom. 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”.