Owner Comments:
MEDAL APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Choice Proof+ — Designated “Cameo” by NGC
*An utterly stunning, colorfully toned cameo proof that was a challenge to capture all of its beauty in the images. The outter edges of the surfaces on both the obverse/reverse are toned with the colors of a sunset: dark apricot, deep tangerine, areas of golden hues, and darker burnt siena; whereas the interior is enveloped with a deep golden throughout the sharp devices. The mirrored fields, capture and radiate light in stunning fashion, making for awe-dropping eye-appeal.*
MEDAL BACKGROUND;
Commemorates the 1972 centennial of the International Order of Odd Fellows in Colorado. — The obverse depicts California Gulch, Colorado in 1860. The reverse notes the institution of IOOF halls in the towns of Oro City, Colorado (1872 — NO. 16), Chloride, Colorado (1878 — NO. 31), Leadville, Colorado where the Carbonate Lodge is located (1903), and Carbonate, Colorado (1880 —NO. 35).
RARITY: Unknown:Likely rare (I have never seen another example offered to-date. The cameo designation only adds to the rarity as a whole)
NGC Census not available.
MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
(.925 Sterling Silver, 39mm, Round, Plain/Lettered Edge)
OBVERSE: California Gulch, 1860 - IOOF, 1872-1972 - Centennial / FLT / (Depiction of Carbonate Lodge and Rocky Mountains)
REVERSE: Instituted as Oro City No.16 - September 28, 1872 / Chloride / No.31 11/25/78 / Carbonate Lodge / No.16 April 27, 1903 / Leadville, Colorado / Carbonate / No.35 7/3/80
EDGE: Sterling (Cursive Writing)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
“In 1806, five men, whose occupations included boat building, comedy and a vocalist, joined together to start one of the first fraternal orders in England.
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According to the organization’s official website, these men were the founding fathers of what would become known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Their mission to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan,” derived from obvious needs in the community, as well as personal experiences.
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By 1819, several lodges had been organized as membership grew, and soon, lodges were established in the United States.
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The order had six lodges in the Colorado Territory in 1868, and on Nov. 10, 1868, five men from Cañon City were instituted as Cañon City Lodge No. 7. The fraternal order dedicated to caring for the community existed before there were governmental programs and was quite an asset to Cañon City in its founding days.
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In 1904, the Odd Fellows of Colorado Order started setting aside funds with the hopes of building a home for the elderly and indigent members of its order, as well as orphans. As plans progressed, communities with local chapters of the organization held on to hope that their town would be the one chosen for such an honor. A committee was developed to inspect potential locations, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Northern Colorado Cities, and Cañon City, according to a 1962 Daily Record article on the subject.“ — Credited Source: Canon City Daily Record: “Back In Time: Cañon City one of first in Colorado to establish home for Independent Order of Odd Fellows” | Brooke Johnson: Published January 10, 2021