Owner Comments:
CRYSTAL PALACE 1853 NEW YORK CITY, NY. HK-6 WHITE METAL.
TYPE I--1853 DOLLAR
THERE ARE ONLY A TOTAL OF (18) OF THIS WHITE METAL TYPE GIVEN A FULL NUMBER GRADE PER NGC'S CENSUS AS OF 3/2024, WITH ONLY (12) OF THOSE BEING UNC'S.
AN NGC GRADED MS 60 EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE WAS SOLD BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS IN 2016 FOR $1,292.50.
AN NGC GRADED MS 62 PL EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE WAS SOLD BY STACKS BOWERS IN 2019 FOR $1,320.00.
JEFF SHEVLIN SOLD AN NGC GRADED MS 60 EXAMPLE ON HIS WEBSITE FOR $1,175.00.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MINOR SCRATCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE SHIELD ON THE OBVERSE, BUT NOTHING DETRACTING FROM THE MEDAL. I FEEL THAT THE DETAILS GRADE FOR SCRATCHES IS QUESTIONABLE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY SEEN WORSE DAMAGE OBTAIN FULL GRADES.
Engraved by Charles Stubenrauch, formerly a mint engraver in Darmstadt, Germany.
Purpose: To exhibit "industry of all nations for...comparison, competition, instruction and encouragement."
Organization: First "International" exposition held in United States. Following 1851 London Crystal Palace Exhibition, New York group, including Horace Greeley, chartered "The Association for the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations"; built Crystal Palace at cost of over $600,000. No direct grants from city or state but former did lease ground free for five years from 1852 on condition that (1) building be "chiefly of iron and glass," (2) admission fee not exceed 50 cents. Federal government provided "neither financial support nor official sanction" but charged no duty on goods imported for exhibition purposes, which practice still prevails today.
Site, Dates: South side 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues to west of present New York Library, known as Reservoir Square; now Bryant Park. First exhibition opened July 14, 1853; ran intermittently until Oct. 5, 1858 when building was destroyed by fire.
America's first foray into the promotion of the fruits of the industrial age followed the successful 1851 Great Exhibition in England. It showcased the industrial achievements of the world and demonstrated the nationalistic pride of a relatively young nation and all that America stood for. The English influence lead to the construction of an American version of the English Crystal Palace in iron and glass as the Grand Hall for the Exhibition.