This Morphy Auctions lot contains an interesting California theatrical medal made from a $50 gold slug. -Editor

"Carl Sontag, who has appeared at the Baldwin Theater every Sunday evening for the past three months, made his farewell bow last night before an audience that fairly packed the house from orchestra to the topmost gallery. The play chosen for the great artist's final exit from the stage of his many triumphs was Freitag's brilliant comedy, "The Journalists", which has become a standard play on the German stage. It is as renowned for its literary, merit and extremely humorous and brilliant dialogue as it is for ingenious construction. Mr. Sontag found in the role of Conrad Bolz a peculiarly humorous, yet elegant characterization, a congenial task, and the frequent plaudits of the enthusiastic audience evidenced the fact that on this, his last representation, the great artist scored another hit......

"The pleasantest feature of the evening was at the end of the play, when Mr. Kadelburg came forward on the open stage and in a hearty manner said: "It is a good old and worthy custom to present to an honored guest at parting a token as an earnest of the regard and esteem in which he is held. It is therefore my pleasant duty, in the name of your many friends, to present you with this souvenir.

"It is a coin characteristic of California, and itself tells the history of the state; and it will recall to you the story of those Pioneers who struggled to make our state what it is and to whom we also owe thanks for having been able to raise the standard of German art in the extremest West. This honored coin is wreathed with the laurel crown you so richly earned, and may you on your native soil in the old Fatherland sometimes think of those friends whom you have left in far away California, who will remember as long as German art exists the name of Carl Sontag. He thereupon handed Mr. Sontag an elegant velvet case, in which was enclosed a slug of 1852, encircled with a golden crown of laurels and headed by the usual histrionic emblems of mask, scroll, etc. The entire piece was suspended from a plain and heavy gold pin by a silken ribbon of red, white and blue.

"On the obverse side of the coin was the inscription: "To true merit this crown. The Germans of San Francisco to Carl Sontag, February 12, 1882". Mr. Sontag, in an extremely agitated manner, replied as follows: "From the first hour I arrived here I met nothing but kindness ad good-will. I ought to say not only from the first hour but even earlier, for before my arrival across the bay I was met by Mr. Kadelburg who, in behalf of my colleagues, in the first place, proffered me every service and friendly help, and from the directrice, stage manager and stage personnel. I have met with nothing but the most flattering cordiality. Not alone among the artistic circle, but socially and in private life, I met with a reception so hearty and cordial that must ray during my whole career I never left a city with a greater feeling of regret, and with deep sorrow I leave this loved spot..."