Medals Celebrating Arrival of Norwegian Immigrants at Heritage Auctions

The Restauration – a Norwegian ship carrying 45 immigrants, many of whom settled in Minnesota and became an integral part of the community – arrived in America in 1825. One hundred years later, the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia celebrated the arrival of the Restauration and the launch of the Norse-American community with the striking of a series of medals. Now, a century after the centennial celebration, a selection of the rarest of those medals, from the collection of David F. Schmidt, will be offered in the ANA US Coins Signature®Auction August 26-31. Heritage Auctions is an ANA Event Auctioneer Partner.

1925 Norse-American Centennial Gold Medal, PR65. No. 1 Stamped on Edge.

“This is a very important collection of medals and die trials. David Schmidt spent more than 50 years building what might be the finest and most complete collection of these medals ever assembled,” says Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. “They were made to celebrate an important date in Norwegian and American history, and in the relationship between the two countries. They help cast a spotlight on the strong relationship between the countries, and have even inspired the creation of organizations designed to collect, curate and preserve the history of this important international relationship.

“Some of them are exceptionally rare, and will become important additions to new collections.”

Among the top lots, all of which come from a single consignor, that will be up for grabs is a 1925 Norse-American Centennial Gold Medal, PR65 with the No. 1 Stamped on the Edge, PR65 NGC. The edge stamp suggests that it likely was the first struck Norse-American Centennial gold medal. In June 1982, Anthony Swiatek wrote in The Numismatist that “First strikings of the silver and gold medals were retained by the Centennial Commission.” Gold medal No. 2, he wrote, was presented to Congressman O.J. Kvale, and gold medals No. 3, 4 and 5 were presented to George L Croker, W.J. Clark and J. Carmichael, respectively.

1925 Norse-American Centennial Gold Medal, PR65. About 30 Examples Survive.

The group includes two other gold medals: one that carries a grade of PR65 PCGS. CAC and is one of about 30 surviving examples, and another that is graded PR65 PCGS.

1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal, MS66. Thin Planchet.

The Norse-American treasures in the auction feature several silver medals, including a 1925 Medal Norse, Thin Planchet, MS66 PCGS. CAC from a thin planchet and three from thick planchets, as well as a Copper Die Trial, MS63 Brown PCGS and a Brass Uniface Die Trial, MS64 PCGS.

1925 Norse American Centennial Medal, MS65. Oversize Nickel Planchet.

Several rare Large Format pieces also are represented, among them a nickel strike in MS65 NGC and a second nickel strike on a spectacular oversized planchet.