Another medallion - big silver and rare!

[bingbingbing]

Finding a 1892 Columbus medallion and a Paris Exposition medallion in the same hole was crazy enough (see my prior post - two medallions same hole) - but I found a 1901 Pan-American Exposition medal - 40 on the Nox! Why we love our hobby!

Here's a description I found for it:
1901 Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, Lavin-TM103, Silver, 64 mm. The edge is marked GORHAM CO. on this impressive Hermon MacNeil designed medal.

This will be the first item I send to get slabbed as it is rare and valuable (only 20 or so know to exist - I've done some research on it since positing this yesterday) - can anyone provide me with any guidance? (I'm only ~1 year into this hobby!)

Thanks for looking!

 

[lenmac65]

Three similar medals in less than a month; that is bizzare. Same general area? Congrats... can't wait to see number 4!

 

[bingbingbing]

all in the same area - first two were in the same hole - this one was ~3FT away ... very odd for sure.

 

[jewelerguy]

things that make you go Hmmmm....

 

[l2hunt]

ya cool digs!

 

[Mackaydon]

Your description is of another medal presented to William W. Hart.
This one was presented to Robert B. Brandegee, an artist.
Don......

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

A "Medallion Spill" - how cool is that !

 

[ArfieBoy]

Very nice medallion! Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[against the wind]

Cool find,,
Hermon MacNeil designed the Standing Liberty Quarter.

 

[PetesPockets55]

That's a honker of a medallion. Congratulations.

(Mackaydon is correct though about who the one in these images was presented to.)

 

[Mackaydon]

This man is the same recipient as your previous two medals:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/638558-2-old-medallions-same-hole.html
Don....

 

[bingbingbing]

I know - pretty unbelievable - it was ~2-3 ft. away. I'm trying to track down any living descendants - no luck ... I'm going to check with the Farmington historical society ...

 

[Erik in NJ]

Interesting story that's become even more interesting. So these medallions were only presented to a single individual? Best wishes in tracking the family down and learning more about how these items ended up in the ground. Please keep us updated on this story.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!!Congrats!!!

 

[bingbingbing]

Right?! The Columbus medallion did not have his name on it - just the Paris and Buffalo medals - still crazy.

 

[WaterScoop]

How deep were they? We’re they in a bag or box? Maybe someone buried themselves a treasure to get out at a later time.
Tell us the back story... Location... an old Victorian Home? Front Yard ? Side? Back? Next to a wall? Fence Post? Garden Area?

It is very curious that two medals would be together .

Cheers

 

[A2coins]

Wow great job on that and the others hope theres lots more those are freakin sweet

 

[Silvermonkey]

What a beautiful medallion...great design. Congrats!

 

[bingbingbing]

strange find indeed ...

Happy to elaborate on the back story!

So, in total, I actually have found 4 'medals' all in the same general area at this site. The house is run down (early 1800's) and in the town center (central MA) - it's on a smaller lot (~1/3 acre so not too large of an area to search). The Spanish and French medals were in the same hole (no box/container of any kind) and about 5" down. I found another medal near them (which I didn't post as it was from 1976 - a bicentennial for William Pitt, Earl of Chatham (NJ). Odd. I went back to the site to recheck the general area - I thought to myself that there was no way there would be a fourth, but fortunately, I found the Pan American Expo medal about ~3-4 FT away yesterday afternoon - I had searched the yard thoroughly (no silver coins - but several modern coins [naturally], a broken toy airplane, a '86 IHP, and a nice older button). All of the medals were in a 'garden bed' in very dry soil on the edge of the property ... I've (finally) learned to check these areas (took me an entire year into the hobby!)

Thanks for looking - doubt I'll ever top these finds, but will have fun trying!


Here's a pic of the 4th medal!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hi,

Very cool story. Can you post a better pic of the front and back of that medal? Was it issued in 1976 to commemorate Chatham, NJ? There are a lot of Chathams. I see the settlement date of 1726, might the medal be from 1926 and a bicentennial for Chatham, MA?