Owner Comments:
CONDITIONALLY RARE BRONZE "WILSON DOLLAR"
USA Administration bronze "Wilson Dollar - Manila Mint Opening" Medal 1920 MS62 Red and Brown NGC,
HK-450, Struck to commemorate the opening of the Manila mint, also considered a So-Called Dollar in the American series of such types. Very appreciable in this grade, with just 5 certified representatives higher at NGC.
The Bronze medal commemorating the "Opening of the Manila Mint" was struck at the U.S. Manila Mint in mid-July 1920. Speaker Osmena of the Filipino House of Representatives struck off the first medal during the July 15, 1920 opening day ceremony and 2000 specimens were struck on the first day. Up to 3700 Bronze Medals were produced and sold for fifty cents at the time of issue.
Many of the Bronze medals went unsold for years and were still in the Philippine Treasury at the outbreak of WWII. When Japan invaded the Philippines the Commonwealth government moved the contents of the Philippine Treasury from Manila to the island fortress of Corregidor. Prior to the fall of Corregidor 16 million Pesos in silver coins and many Silver and Bronze Wilson Dollars were dumped into Manila Bay to prevent there seizure by the Japanese. Although many of these coins and medals were salvaged after the war the majority are heavily corroded from their long immersion in salt water.
Although more of the Manila Mint Opening Medals were struck in Bronze than in Silver Mint State examples of the Bronze Medal are considerably rarer than the Silver. Of the origional 3700 mintage NGC has only graded 40 Mint State examples of the Bronze.Manila Mint Opening Medal. Of the 40 Mint state examples graded by NGC only 18 have recieved a Red Brown designation and none have been graded Red. No GEM (MS65 or above) examples of the Bronze (HK-450) Manila Mint Opening Medal have been graded by either grading service. At MS62 RB this specimen is one of the finest surviving examples of this rare and historically important medal.
Purchased in Heritage Auctions 2024 March 26 Spotlight: Medals & Tokens World Coins Showcase Auction, Lot # 23224.
Date Encapsulated: 11/27/2023
Total Graded by NGC in MS62 RB: 10 (03/26/2024)
Total Graded RB by NGC in higherr grades: 5 (03/26/2024)
Total Graded by PCGS in MS62 RB: 2 (03/26/2024)
Total Graded RB by PCGS in higher grades: 4 (03/26/2024)
Combined Total Graded by NGC & PCGS in MS62 RB: 12 (3/26/2024)
Combined Total Graded RB by NGC & PCGS in higher grades: 9 (3/26/2024)