Numismatics in the World's Columbian Exposition

400 years after Columbus made landfall in theselected a New York artist by the name of
New World, the World's Columbian ExpositionCaroline Peddle to design the quarter. Peddle was
became the most defining moment in the Uniteda student of Augustus St. Gaudens, the famed
States for years to come. May 1, 1893 markeddesigner of the double eagle $20 coin. The move
the opening of this momentous day in history.of selecting an independent artist insulted the
The Exposition spanned more than 600 acres ofChief Engraver of the U.S Mint, Charles Barber.
beautiful Jackson Park in Chicago that wereBarber would not give the approval of the
marked by more than 200 classically designedcommemorative coin with Peddle as the artist.
buildings, bridges and lagoons. The sheerSeeing no other options, Palmer allowed Barber to
magnitude of the Exposition far surpassed allchoose an artist to design the coin. An artist by
other World's Fairs further proving the theory ofthe name of Kenyon Cox was chosen. Cox had
American Exceptionalism. Furthermore, the Fairpainted numerous murals of the exposition and
showed that Chicago had risen from beneath thethe sketches for the bust of Queen Isabella were
ashes of the Great Chicago Fire, which in 1871done by his hand. Palmer procured enough money
destroyed 4 square miles of Chicago and tookfor 40,000 commemorative quarters. June 13,
hundreds of lives.1893 marked the date in which 40,000 souvenir
The World's Columbian Exposition remainedquarters began being at the Philadelphia mint. A
opened for 6 months, from May 1, 1893 until itsNY Times article dated June 14, 1893 stated "The
closing on October 30, 1893. Through the durationdesign of the coin exceeds in beauty that of the
of the Fair more than 27 million people from allColumbian half-dollars. The obverse side
over the world attended. These people came torepresents the head of Queen Isabella of Spain
experience the most expansive, technologicallywearing the Crown of Castile; while on the
advanced and future molding World's Fair inreverse side is a woman kneeling by the side of a
existence. Through the duration of the Fair, thedistaff." The souvenir quarters were sold at the
people in attendance experienced many firsts,Women's Building for $1.00. Of the original 40,000
including the first Ferris wheel. Ferris' wheel, whichcoins minted, only 24,191 were sold, the remaining
spanned 264 feet, could accommodate 2,00015,809 were returned to the mint and melted.
people on a single revolution. As well as theThe Isabella Commemorative Quarter will forever
experiencing the first Ferris wheel, the Americanbe remembered by the role that women played
people would have experienced the differentduring the World's Columbian Exposition.
cultures of more than 36 different countriesThe World's Columbian Exposition was a life
around the world including Japan and Egypt.changing and momentous experience for all that
The World's Columbian Exposition impacted theattended. Tickets for the fair went on sale on
world greatly. It inspired the minds of greatApril 1, 1892 at various hotels throughout Chicago.
inventors and paved the road for the way weThousands of patrons that were desirous of
live today. On a numismatic standpoint, thekeeping the tickets as souvenirs or to send them
World's Columbian Exposition was responsible foraway to friends lined up at various Chicago hotels
the creation of numismatic items still greatlyto purchase the tickets. A NY Times article dated
collected today.April 2, 1893 stated "Besides the tickets placed on
In an effort to honor Christopher Columbus, thesale at the hotels, Treasurer Seeberger has
Worlds Columbian Board of Directors decided toreceived large orders for them from business
establish a commemorative half dollar coin thathouses who desire to send them out to their
was to be struck by the U.S Mint. A NY Timescustomers in the country. The orders already on
article dated July 10, 1892 discusses the proposedfile from this source alone aggregate over
bill sent to the Senate in regards to the coining of$300,000."
the World's Columbian Exposition commemorativeThe tickets are as astonishing as the Fair itself.
half dollar. The Bill proposed that "these shall be ofThere are six different varieties of tickets that
the same weight and fineness, and have in allwere used, with each one bearing the face of an
other respects the same qualities as the silver halfessential figure in history. There first four were
dollar now authorized by law." Outlined in the billgeneral admission tickets with vignette portraits
was the means by which the U.S Treasury wouldof an American Indian, Christopher Columbus,
present $5,000,000 for the coining of the souvenirGeorge Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, each
half dollars. The coins would be sold for $1 a pieceallegorically representing a different era in
and will raise $10,000,000. There was muchAmerican history. The last two were printed in
objection to creating so many coins. Senatormuch smaller quantities than the general admission
Sherman from Ohio stated that "the enormoustickets and feature the face of inventor Benjamin
number of souvenir half dollars would destroyFranklin and composer George Frideric Handel. The
their value as souvenirs." In objection to SenatorFranklin ticket features the word "complimentary"
Sherman's response, Senator Allison from Iowaon the face of the ticket and was sent to
stated that "they would not only be souvenirs forbusinesses that sponsored the fair to be used as
this day and generation, but would be transmittedgifts for their best customers. Benjamin Franklin
by the sixty-five millions of people now dwelling inwas selected for the face of this ticket because
the United States to the two hundred millions thatof his experiments with electricity, which was the
were to dwell here in the future. Children wouldmost important and spectacular of all the
cry for them, and the old men would demandinnovations introduced at the Fair. The "Music"
them. They would be withdrawn from circulationticket, which is the scarcest of all, features an
and fall into a condition of innocuous desuetude."engraving of the 18th century composer Handel,
Once the bill was passed, the designing of the coinand was used to gain entry to musical
was to be started. The coin was to bear aperformances. Handel's "Water Music" and "Music
likeness of Christopher Columbus. In an articlefor the Royal Fireworks" were performed at the
from the NY Times dated August 23, 1892, theFair. Handel's face appearing on the Fair ticket is
U.S Mint expresses how inconveniencing it hadvery suitable being as the Fair showcased the
been to unearth a proper portrait of Christopherlatest in electric fountains and immense displays of
Columbus. It had been the Mint's intention to use afireworks that were displayed with his
portrait from a painter named Sotto, but thecompositions playing in the background.
portrait did not keep with the generally acceptedThe tickets for the Fair were printed by the New
features of Columbus's face. The dilemma ofYork Banknote company. A New York Banknote
finding the ideal portrait was solved, when theCompany employee, Col. Porter, is awarded credit
Mint Bureau in Washington forwarded an etchingfor designing the tickets for the World's Columbian
by Focilion, from Suardo's Columbus. The portraitExposition. A NY Times article from April 2, 1893
of Columbus was copied from the original paintingdescribes the Worlds Fair Tickets "The tickets,
owned by Paolo Giovio. The portrait, which hadwhich are in four different designs are about 4
hung on the walls of Giovio's home during theinches long by 2 ½ inches wide, the paper used
lifetime of Columbus, had always been reputed tobeing of remarkably fine texture of a light grayish
be a true original as the two were dear friends.color. The tickets of the various series differ
Over 2.5 million examples of the coin were struckfrom each other in the color of their backs, the
for the World's Columbian Exposition. Althoughcolors used being brown, red, green and blue.
many were sold at the Fair, many remainedOpposite these handsome vignettes in the
unsold and remained situated in circulation for faceright-hand corner of the ticket is engraved:
value. Today, the Columbian half dollar holds theWorld's Columbian Exposition, Chicago. Admit
prestige of being the oldest U.S commemorativebearer 1st May to 30th Oct, 1893." Each ticket
half dollar and a remarkable amount still remain inwas beautifully printed and they are truly works
pristine condition.of art. Not only did these tickets exhibit striking
Women in the 19th century were not regarded tofeatures, they also featured the premier in
the same way that they are today. The mindsetanti-counterfeiting measures. "The great
of many in the late 19th century was that asafeguards the company relies on against the
women's place was in the home. In 1890, acounterfeiting of these tickets are the use of
woman by the name of Bertha Honoré Palmercolors and the delicately toned and intricate
was elected as president to the Board of Ladyengraving, which will render it impossible to
Managers at the World's Columbian Exposition.photograph the tickets."
Palmer traveled around the country generatingAlthough the World's Columbian Exposition lasted
interest for the Fair. She contracted a spot in theonly six months, the innovations that were
World's Columbian Exposition to build the Women'sillustrated throughout the Fair significantly changed
Building which was designed by a womenthe way we live today. The Fair presented the
architect. Palmer was the mind responsible for theworld with some of the most profound
suggestion of a commemorative coin for womennumismatic material of all time. From the
to be sold during the Fair. To keep with theColumbian Half Dollar and the Isabella Quarter, the
female theme, Palmer insisted that a portrait offirst U.S commemorative coins, to the intricately
Queen Isabella of Spain be used for the coin.designed admission tickets that displayed the first
Queen Isabella, who gave her patronage toinnovations in anti-counterfeiting measures, the
Columbus, was partly responsible for his historic1893 World's Columbian Exposition changed the
discovery of the New World. In order to keepworld as we now know it.
with the woman theme once again, Palmer