Dallas, TX: One of the greatest engineering undertakings ever accomplished was the building of the Erie Canal in order to connect the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal, although conceived several years earlier, was constructed between 1817 and 1825 and connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, allowing a much quicker and more inexpensive transportation method than traditional land travel. The finished canal resulted in a considerable population surge in western New York, and eventually areas even further west. American commerce flourished, and international trade increased. Even by today’s standards, the completion of such an enormous civil engineering project would garner respect. Now, consider the utter lack of engineering resources, manpower, and finances that challenged early proponents of the manmade waterway. Obviously, the completion of the Erie Canal was cause for much fanfare. Statewide celebrations took place throughout late 1825 and into early 1826.
“To further commemorate the event,” said Harvey Gamer, Consignment Director for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, “and to honor those intimately involved in the project, the Common Council of New York City ordered a series of medals to be struck in three different compositions: white metal, silver, and gold. The Erie Canal Completion medals, dated 1826, have the distinction of being the oldest in a series of more than 1,000 different so-called dollars, with only a limited amount struck in each metal. The gold version was, by far, the rarest. Some sources claim as many as fifty of these were minted in gold, although many experts consider that number to be excessive, with the real number being less than twenty. The gold medals were reportedly given to leading citizens and dignitaries, including General Lafayette, and the three surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence. Several hundred pieces were struck in the lesser metals, and were presented to guests and officials.”

“The example offered in our upcoming auction is known to have come from a European estate, recently repatriated to America,” Gamer said. “Although we don’t know for certain who the original owner was, what records we have indicate that the only person to whom such a medal was given that could reasonably be assumed to have taken it back to Europe was Lafayette himself. Was this example the medal given to that famous general? There’s no way to know for certain, but without a doubt, this piece is steeped in American history and obviously belonged to someone of great importance to the development of our then-fledgling nation.

The Erie Canal Completion Medal in gold will be offered in  Heritage’s 61^st Official September Long Beach Signature Auction. The special Tokens and Medals auction will be held September 28-29 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

1826 Erie Canal Completion Medal in Gold, HK-1001, XF45 NGC:

For more information about Heritage’s auctions, please visit http://www.ha.com/.  Individual prices realized, lot descriptions, and full color images can be viewed in the Permanent Auction Archives at HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.