Commemorative Medals

1875 Mecklenburg Centennial Medal. By William Barber. Julian CM-28, Swoger-2a. Silver. Unc Details--Improperly Cleaned (NGC).

30 mm. A sharply defined example with considerable prooflike reflectivity remaining in the fields. Light hairlining and a curiously glossy texture explain the NGC qualifier, although the otherwise brilliant surfaces exhibit pretty iridescent retoning in reddish-gold and powder blue on the reverse. Only 1,005 (1,010, per Swoger, 2008) examples of this type were struck in silver; R.W. Julian (1977) states that the Mint used regular half dollar planchets for this issue. Survivors are scarce in an absolute sense and rare in Mint State, as here. Indeed, this is the one of the few silver Mecklenburg Centennial medals that we have handled in recent memory, and it is sure to see spirited bidding among specialists.

Estimate: 600