1925 Medal Norse American Centennial, Gold, Matte PR65 PCGS. CAC....

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1925 Norse-American Centennial Gold Medal, PR65
About 30 Examples Survive

1925 Medal Norse American Centennial, Gold, Matte PR65 PCGS. CAC. Minnesota representative Ole Juulson Kvale and South Dakota Senator Peter Norbeck sponsored a Congressional bill to produce a Norse-American Centennial medal, originally conceived as a commemorative half dollar. Congressman Kvale was born in Iowa on February 6, 1869, and died tragically in Minnesota on September 11, 1929, from a fire at his summer home. His parents were born in Norway. Peter Norbeck was born on August 27, 1870, and died on December 20, 1936. He was a former South Dakota governor prior to his election to the Senate. Norbeck, a proponent of the Mount Rushmore project, was of Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. This sharply detailed Gem exhibits brilliant harvest-gold luster with trivial surface marks of little consequence. A copper toning spot in the water lines on the obverse will identify this example. Population: 7 in 65 (1 in 65+), 6 finer (5/25).

Norse-American Centennial Timeline
March 2, 1925 - Congress passes a bill authorizing the Philadelphia Mint to produce medals for the centennial celebration.

April 1925 - The earliest mention of the Norse Centennial in The Numismatist.

May 21, 1925 - Production of the thin octagonal silver medals began for three days with 6,000 minted.

May 29, 1925 - Production of the thick octagonal silver medals began, continuing through June 13 with a mintage of 33,750 pieces.

June 3, 1925 - 100 gold medals were struck over two days. 53 of those medals were eventually returned to the Philadelphia Mint, leaving a net distribution of 47 gold medals.

June 6-9, 1925 - The Norse-American Centennial was celebrated in St. Paul, Minnesota.

August 1925 - The Norse-American Centennial medal was illustrated for the first time in The Numismatist.

August 26, 1925 - Henry Chapman was the first to auction a Norse American silver medal at auction, realizing $2.00. Lot 154 was described: "1925 Norse- American Centennial, 1825-1925. Norseman landing from a boat. R. authorized by congress of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Ancient boat, A. D. 1000. Octagonal. Not a coin, but why is a question?"

December 1925 - 75 large three-inch silver-plated bronze medals were authorized. Congressman Kvale requested these for his Congressional associates to thank them for the legislation. Just 60 were struck with an initial production of 50 medals and later production of 10 additional medals.

April 4, 1928 - Thomas L. Elder offered a unique obverse trial of the Norse-American Centennial medal struck in nickel. Lot 719 realized $1.50.

January 4, 1930 - Oregon Coin Club member Deo Edwards exhibited a complete set of United States commemorative coins except the $50 Panama-Pacific issues. The Numismatist of February 1930 reported: "In the exhibit were also the Hudson and Fulton gold dollars and the Norse-American medal with both thin and thick planchets, and a very rare specimen struck in gold."

December 9, 1930 - B. Max Mehl offered a large format Norse-American Centennial medal that he described as "pure silver." Offered as lot 1361 with a $25.00 reserve, the medal realized $28.25.

January 28, 1939 - Ira Reed offered a Norse-American Centennial gold medal. This is the earliest located auction appearance for the gold medal.
From The David F. Schmidt Norse-American Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28NU, PCGS# 9452, Greysheet# 10337)

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