Owner Comments:
ANA MEDAL APPEARANCE CONDITION:
TOP POP: Bronze Variety - Choice Brilliant Gem+
Pedigreed: #77 (77th Set Minted of 1,000; Noted on Original Display Case)
*Absolutely stunning, near perfect example of this low serial numbered, “top-pop” historic medal. — Iindividually "unique to Colorado" design which corresponds to its silver counterpart from the same 77th set which is also graded NGC MS-69. Both are included in this collection.*
ANA MEDAL BACKGROUND:
Celebrates the ANA's 72nd Convention; the “Rocky Mountain Rendezvous” which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Denver, Colorado from August 7-10, 1963. The event was hosted by the Denver Coin Club.
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A scarce low-numbered set minted by the Medallic Art Company, N.Y.; serial number 77 of 1,000 produced. Noted on original plexiglass case the medals were issued in. The edges are not engraved. — Not a lot of information exists on the earlier conventions. Prior to 1977, the ANA only held one convention per year, if at all.
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Along with the bronze and silver issues, a gold variety of the same design exists. Only 2 are reported to exist (cataloged: ANA-63.CM14b).
DESIGNER: Charles L. Nelson, assisted by Dan H. Brown and James Nelson.
CATALOG NUMBER: ANA-63.CM14
RARITY: 1,000 (Sets Issued)
(*TOP POP* NGC POP = 1; NONE Finer): [04/2022]
ANA MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
(Medallic Art Company, New York, NY. Minted, Bronze, 41mm, Round, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Depiction of Pikes Peak within concave circle, 1963 below. This design is fashioned after the Clark Gruber and Company $10 and $20 gold pieces dated 1860. Peripheral inscription: AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION / • DENVER COLORADO •.
REVERSE: Five devices within concave circle. At top center is the ANA emblem. At upper left is a reproduction of the obverse of the John Parsons & Company undated (1861) 5 dollar Pikes Peak gold piece. At upper right a reproduction of the J.J. Conway & Company (Georgia Gulch, Colorado) undated (1861) 5 dollar gold piece. J.J. CONWAY / • BANKERS • around periphery within which is a circle of thirteen five-pointed stars; & CO. in center. In the lower portion are the obverse (at left, partially obscured behind reverse design) and reverse representationsoftheLesherReferendumDollar*(1900FirstType,nobusinessname). LesherDollarobverse: Rocky Mountains with mining town in foreground of top 4/5 portion, PIKES PEAK / SILVER MINE at top. Legend in lower portion: • A COMMODITY • / WILL GIVE MERCHANDISE IN EXCHANGE / • AT • ----- / NO. 1963 / • AT BULLION ------. Lesher Dollar reverse: at top center is a shield with two crossed mining picks and three mountain peaks in chief; below the shield is a scroll; above the shield is a horizontal fasces above which is a radiant triangle; JOS. LESHERS REFERENDUM SOUVENIR around periphery above; 1.OZ. — COIN divided by shield; •• SILVER •• / PRICE 1.25. / M°F°D. VICTOR / COLO. / •• 1900 •• in five lines below. Peripheral inscription: • ROCKY MOUNTAIN RENDEZVOUS • / 72ND ANNUAL CONVENTION. The rendezvous title is based on the historic yearly meetings of fur trappers in the west.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
A Lesher Dollar is depicted on the reverse of the medal. “The Lesher Dollars were coined by Joseph Lesher in 1900 and 1901 at Victor, Colorado. They were used in trade to some extent, and stocked by various merchants who redeemed them in goods. The coins were numbered. All varieties are quite rare. Metal: .950 fine silver. Planchet: octagonal. Diam: 38.0 mm.” — Credited Source: Catalog of American Numismatic Association Convention Badges and Medals | 2006 edition.