National Bicentennial Medal

Hiw so we tell the difference in metals! They all look the same within plastic haha

 

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Very easy to tell the difference between the bronze and the sterling which reside in my collection......

 

plated bronze.p is hard to tell from bronze. Check out my thread in one of my centennial medals. Can you determine it for me?

 

I'm CONFUSED..Stack's has THIS, and says only 500 Minted...they say nothing whether PR or MS...nothing I see says anything about 500 coins..unless it's the larger gold proof that sold for 4k in 1976?
http://www.stacksbowers.com/BrowseAuctions/LotDetail/tabid/227/AuctionID/6103/Lot/1/Default.aspx
Description
Sparkling and Lustrous Large Size Gold Bicentennial Medal
1976 National Bicentennial Medal. Gold. 76.2 mm. 455.49 grams. Swoger-52IAa. Numbered 270 on Edge. MS-65 (PCGS).
Fewer than 500 of these impressively large gold medals were struck at the Philadelphia Mint for the nation's bicentennial. Brilliant golden luster radiates on both sides. Many of these large medals did not survive the melting pots a few years after issue, when in 1979 and 1980 the price of gold ran up over $800 per ounce. A modern U.S. Mint medal rarity, destined for a fine collection. Accompanied by the original cherry wood box and certificate as issued. The box and certificate are available to the winning bidder upon request to Stack's Bowers Galleries after the close of the auction.
PCGS# 523312.

 

They don't say 500 minted, they say LESS than 500 minted which fits the 309 figure quoted earlier. They also say that PCGS has called it a MS-65, not a proof. The pictures look like it probably is MS which is contrary to the "official" statements made earlier that it would be proof finish. One thing you would have t consider would be that with the large 3 inch size of the medal it would have probably required multiple strikes which could give it a "proof like" sharpness even without the mirror finish.

 

The auction has the Swoger-52IAa reference... from the Swoger book on National Commemorative Medals it shows that the medals were struck from .900 fine gold, weighing 7029.33 grains and were serially numbered and issued in a cherry wood box with velvet lining. Originally issued for $4,000 and only 424 were issued.

 

Found this on a random webpage...

http://madeleinewolvertonur82s.ga/official-bicentennial-day-commemorative-medal-value-950.php

The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA) sponsored a series of commemorative medals between 1972 and 1976; a distinct design was used for each year. In 1972, only bronze medals were issued; from 1973 through 1976, bronze AND sterling silver medals were issued.

The bronze medals were offered in two packaging options each year: 1) housed in a small black plastic hinged case, and 2) in a philatelic-numismatic cover (PNC) which included a block of four Bicentennial stamps. The medals in the plastic cases are dated for the year of their issue; the medals in the PNCs are not dated.

The bronze medals in the plastic cases sold for $3.50; the medals in the PNCs sold for $5.00. The 1973 silver medals sold for $10 each; the price was raised to $15 each for the 1974 through 1976 issues.

George Washington was featured on the obverse of the medal in 1972, Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams in 1973, John Adams in 1974, Paul Revere in 1975 and Thomas Jefferson in 1976.

The ARBA medals were struck in sterling silver (0.925 fine). The medals weigh 480 grains/1 ounce, so they contain 0.925 troy ounces of pure silver.

All of the medals, bronze and silver, were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

In addition, the US Mint also struck a National Bicentennial Medal in various compositions and sizes.

The National Bicentennial medals feature the Statue of Liberty on the obverse and the Great Seal of the US on the reverse. The medals were designed by US Mint Chief Sculptor-Engraver, Frank Gasparro.

Here's a list of the sizes available, the metal content and the original selling price:

- 1-1/2" / Bronze / $5.00
- 1-1/2" / Gold-plated Bronze / $15.00
- 1-1/2" / Sterling Silver, Proof finish / 0.925 troy ounce of silver / $25.00
- 3" / Sterling Silver, Antique finish / 7.822 troy ounces of silver / $150.00
- 29/32" (0.906") / Gold, Proof finish / 0.37 troy ounces of gold / $100.00
- 1-5/16" / Gold, Proof finish / 1.167 troy ounces of gold / $400.00
- 3" / Gold, Proof finish / 13.18 troy ounces of gold / $4,000.00

 

I have one of the following National Bicentennial Medals...

- 1-1/2" / Bronze / $5.00
- 1-1/2" / Gold-plated Bronze / $15.00

and it weighs 25.86 g. These things are about the size of an Ike dollar which in clad weigh 22.68 g. In 40% silver an Ike weighs 24.59 g.

So I am gonna guess the one I have is the gold plated bronze version. I'm not gonna do an actual calculation using known densities of bronze, and gold. Too fricking lazy.

 

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/american-revolution-bicentennial-gold-coin.289652/

 

We've had these off and on at the store where I work. On our digital scale they weigh 30.8 grams (just under 1 Troy Ounce.) Diameter is 38mm / 1.495 inches.
Composition as checked on our Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier is .925 Silver. Has "F. Gasparro" on the obverse and the five pointed star logo of the bicentennial commission.

Hope that helps.

 

Well, how can we explain this? I checked this one at .925 and it popped above the acceptable range. When checked at .900, this is what I got. Please advise.....

 

Sigma reading

 

Necromongers...........

 

Here is the one Bicentennial medal I have, the small one in gold.



It came in a nice wooden box.



The very large gold medal is a rarity. There were only some like 300 issued and it is conceivable to some them were melted for their gold content. The last one I was was in an auction, and it sold for over $10,000.

 

Any explanation for why this silver one I have says it is 90% but the Franklin mint says 92.5%. Maybe my machine is faulty or struggles with the very irregular surfaces on this medal.