Several states issued medals in advance of exposition as one means of raising funds for exhibition purposes; usually sold for $1. Except for Arkansas' Aluminum piece, all were Bronze; some silver-plated officially, others privately.
THIS EXAMPLE WAS CONSERVED BY NCS AND THEN GRADED BY NGC FOR ME IN JUNE 2018. THE MEDAL WAS VERY DARK AND DIRTY WHEN SUBMITTED. THE NCS CONSERVATION BROUGHT OUT THE DEEP RED/BROWN COLOR OF THIS COPPER PLATED BRONZE EXTREMELY RARE SO-CALLED DOLLAR. NGC THEN GAVE IT A DETAILS- CLEANED DESIGNATION. ANY CLEANING THAT WAS DONE WAS BY NCS!!! I AGREE WITH THE AU MONIKER, BUT CLEANED? BY NCS? I ARGUED WITH NGC TO NO AVAIL REGARDING THIS, OF COURSE!
THIS TYPE IS VERY RARE, AS THERE ARE ONLY (7) GIVEN A FULL NUMBER GRADE PER THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 7/2023, WITH (1) MS 62 BEING THE ONLY UNCIRCULATED EXAMPLE LISTED. SOMEWHAT RARER WITH ATTACHED FOB AS SOME WERE MADE. MANY FOBS WERE REMOVED, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BE DETAILS GRADED.
AN NGC GRADED AU DETAILS EXAMPLE WITH HEAVY BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE WAS SOLD FOR $600.00 BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2017. THIS EXAMPLE DOES NOT HAVE THE RARE ATTACHED FOB AS MINE DOES.
JEFF SHEVLIN HAS AN NGC GRADED AU DETAILS DAMAGED EXAMPLE LISTED FOR SALE ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $495.00. THIS EXAMPLE DOES NOT HAVE THE RARE ATTACHED FOB AS MINE DOES.
JEFF SHEVLIN HAS AN NGC GRADED AU 55 EXAMPLE LISTED FOR SALE ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $1,950.00. THIS EXAMPLE IS HOLED, AND DOES NOT HAVE THE RARE ATTACHED FOB AS MINE DOES.
JEFF SHEVLIN'S NEW SO-CALLED DOLLARS BOOK LISTS THIS MEDAL AS BEING COPPER PLATED BRONZE. I AGREE WITH THIS, AS THIS MEDAL WAS CONSERVED BY NGC WHEN IT WAS GRADED, AND SHOWS A LOT OF RED/BROWN COLORING AS A COPPER SURFACE WOULD VISUALLY LOOK LIKE.
The Kentucky State seal is on the obverse, microscopic signature Robbins Co Attleboro near the bottom. The common reverse features a ship with large sails passing through the Panama Canal with rays of light emanating behind the ship, legend above “The Land Divided”, below “The World United”.