Award Medals 1901-02 Charleston Exposition – SC INTERSTATE & WEST INDIAN (original) (raw)
The 1901-1902 Charleston Exposition also called the SC Interstate and West Indian Exposition was a major cultural and commercial event that attracted visitors from all over the world. One of the key features of the exposition was the awarding of medals to individuals and organizations that had made significant contributions to various fields, such as art, science, and industry. These medals were not only a mark of recognition and prestige but also served as a way to promote the exposition and the city of Charleston. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the medals that were awarded during the 1901-1902 Charleston SC Interstate and West Indian Exposition, exploring their design, historical context, and significance. Join us as we delve into the world of these fascinating artifacts and discover the stories behind them.
Medals 1901-1902 Charleston SC Interstate and West Indian Exposition
1200 medals were awarded – 571 gold, 335 silver, and 283 bronze There are solid bronze, silver, silver-plated, gold and gold-plated specimens. As a collector, I think these are the most beautiful award medals of any expo. They were designed and manufactored by The Gorham Manufacturing Company, known for its high-quality and artistically significant medallions and awards.
GOLD MEDAL – 1901-1902 SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION
One of the 571 Gold Award Medals is pictured. It is 64mm and it one of the most beautiful of all the exposition award medals that we have seen. This is not gild, but rather gold plated over bronze. On the edge it has “Gorham ” and “bronze”. As was the custom in other expositions, the Gold Medal is gold plated over bronze. We have seen only one solid gold medal that was sold for a large sum of money.
GOLD MEDAL – 1901-1902 SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION
Gold Award Medal reverse side says “AWARDED TO” with a name inscribed.
Silver Award Medal SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION
This is the silver medal. This one is made of silver!
Silver Award Medal SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION
This is the silver medal but is silver plated bronze rather than pure silver like the one above.
SILVER PLATED BRONZE AWARD MEDAL – 1901-1902 SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION
The 64mm medals pictured above is, without a doubt, a masterpiece of the engraver’s art. Issued in 1902 by the South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition, specimens were struck by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in bronze, silver-plated bronze, and gold-washed bronze. The medal features an allegorical figure seated between two palmetto trees, cradling a ship in her left arm and holding a sceptre in her right hand. Depicted to her right is a view of Fort Sumter and, to her left, a scene showing the fine homes on East Battery.
A total of almost 1200 medals were awarded – 571 gold, 335 silver, and 283 bronze – to exhibitors in several divisions. All the medals are marked on the edge with the Gorham hallmark and what type of composition. If a silver medal is marked “bronze” on the edge then it is silver-plated bronze. If it is marked “silver” then it is silver. The Gold medal as was the custom with other expositions, we gold-plated bronze. Except there is at least one reportly solid gold medal.
The 31 categories for which medals were awarded included: agricultural products, agricultural machinery, live stock, foods and accessories, beverages, horticulture and pomology, forestry, fish and fisheries, mines and metallurgy, gas engines and acetylene generators, electricity and electrical appliances, transportation, ordnance, chemicals, leather, furniture, hardware, jewelry and watches, manufactures and fabrics, graphic arts, paper and stationery, education, photographs, medical and dental instruments, engineering, hygiene and sanitation, constructive architecture, music and musical instruments, oil paintings, installation, and books.
The immediate medal image above and info provided by South Carolina Tokens
1901-1902 SC Official Exposition Medal
1901-1902 South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition Medal. HK-294, SH 12-1 GP. Rarity-5. Observe
This medal sold for $1440 on Stacks in Sept 2023.
1901-1902 SC Official Exposition Medal
1901-1902 South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition Medal. HK-294, SH 12-1 GP. Rarity-5. Reverse.
Fort Sumter Dollar
Sliver medal form the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition of 1901-1902
Fort Sumter Dollar
Reverse side of above medal form the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition of 1901-1902. Called the Fort Sumter Dollar this side shows the fort with 1901 Charleston 1902 South Carolina.
FORT SUMTER DOLLAR – 1901-1902 SOUTH CAROLINA INTER-STATE AND INDIAN EXPOSITION.
Obverse: Tall palm tree and village scene within center circle; outside, around South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition.
Reverse: Fort, below Fort Sumter SC — within a wreath of flowers; outside, around 1901 Charleston 1902, below South Carolina.
HK-292 – Silver-plated Copper, rather thin planchet. Weight 32.7 grams, size 32.7mm.
Advertising **Token Replica of Gold Medal 1901
S. Carolina Interstate & West-Indian Expo Token~1901-2
An interesting metal token or coin that was for the South Carolina Interstate & West-Indian Exposition 1901 to 1902. It is marked at bottom “Charleston, South Carolina, 1901-2” & the token maker.
Reverse side of above Token Replica of Gold Medal South Carolina Interstate & West-Indian Expo Token~1901-2
An interesting metal token or coin that was for the South Carolina Interstate & West-Indian Exposition 1901 to 1902. The reverse side is for a gold medal award given to Lane Mfg. Co. It measures 32 mm in diameter & has a gold plated finish.
South Carolina Agricultural and Mechancial Society Award Medal
Obverse with the legend, SOUTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY around a montage composed of a palmetto tree, sheaf of wheat, bale of cotton, barrel, an anvil on a stump, a plow, pitchfork and a rake. Signed P.L. KRIDER in tiny letters to the right of the cotton bale.
South Carolina Agricultural and Mechancial Society Award Medal – Reverse Side
On the reverse, an open wreath encloses AWARDED TO/ above an uninscribed center.
SOUTH CAROLINA A&M SOCIETY AWARD MEDAL. SOUTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY, ND. Lindesmith Unlisted. 4.4mm. Bronze. Peter Krider, Sc. Red and brown Uncirculated.
Medals such as this were awarded at the South Carolina State Fair. After the Civil War, the state agricultural society revived under its present name and held its first post-war fair in 1869. The fair is said to have had a political role through the Reconstruction years, … “as a rallying point for Carolina Democrats opposed to Republican control of the state government. A 1916 history says that the fair was ‘the only bond between the white people of the state’ while they suffered under ‘alien’ Republican rule.”
South Carolina Token with State Seal
South Carolina Token with State Seal
Reverse side of above token
1901-1902 Charleston
South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition
Exposition Purpose: To advertise city’s port, geographical position and potential for trade with West Indies and Central and South America. Sunken Gardens: A notable feature of the Charleston exposition was the Sunken Gardens, which became a popular attraction and a lasting legacy of the fairgrounds.