The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 39, September 24, 2006, Article 16

SOME BACKGROUND ON WOODEN MEDALS

NBS President Pete Smith writes: "I started collecting wooden
medals earlier this year and gathered information from a couple of
articles. Although I understand the advice to buy the book before
the coin, I often do the opposite. I buy something that intrigues
me and then attempt to find the relevant literature. This past
March I bought a set of the Centennial wood medals and, with the
help of Nancy Green, searched for the literature.

The best source I have found on wooden medals is a two-part article
by Henry (Hank) Spangenberger in Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine, March
and April, 1969. He lists about 38 pieces from the Peace Jubilee
medals of 1869 to World's Fair items from 1939.

There are articles by H. W. Holland in the American Journal of
Numismatics beginning in 1877 that cover all Centennial medals
including the wooden ones. A couple of articles in The Numismatist
in 1927 have comments but little information.

I have heard that Arlie Slabaugh was working on an update but I
don't believe he published his results. There may be other sources
that I missed."

Regarding the 1876 wooden U.S. centennial medals, Eric von Klinger
writes: "These were written about in letters in the January and
February 1927 issues of The Numismatist. According to these letters,
the medals were die-struck by Ornamental Wood Co., Philadelphia, on
walnut or other hard wood, and were sold in decorative cardboard
boxes at the Centennial Exposition in that city. One writer said
they were struck with the grain of the wood, not against it, and
so did not warp with time.

Six medals constituted the set. The two largest (3 inches) show
the Main Building and Memorial Hall. The others, measured at
somewhat less than 2.5 inches, depict George Washington; Gen.
Joseph R. Hawley, president of the exposition; Alfred T. Goshorn,
director general of the exposition; and Independence Hall.

The common reverse reads: THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN
INDEPENDENCE. GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. FAIRMOUNT PARK.
PHILADELPHIA. 4TH OF JULY 1876."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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