Welcome to the Pan-American Census Project–an effort to identify the remaining medals awarded at 1901 Pan-American Exposition.
What was the Pan-American Exposition?
The Pan-American Exposition was a major world’s fair held in Buffalo, New York between May 1st and November 2nd, 1901. The Exposition was designed “to promote commercial and social interests among the States and countries of the Western Hemisphere”. Covering 350 acres, the exposition’s attractions included scenic gardens, fountains, and lakes, restaurants and promenades, performances of famous musicians, and a massive 12,000-seat stadium which saw sporting events, livestock judging, and even Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The Exposition also presented around 7,000 exhibitors from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The exhibitors were promoting their newest and best innovations in manufacturing, transportation, medicine, agriculture, and many other subjects. Approximately 8,000,000 people visited the fair.
What are the Pan-American Exposition Medals?
Exhibitors competed for bronze, silver, and gilt (gold plated bronze) medals designed by American sculptor and artist Hermon Atkins MacNeil. These medals were struck by Gorham Manufacturing. They are 64mm in diameter, or just over 2.5 inches across. The bronze and gilt medals weigh about 92 grams (3.25 ounces), the silver approximately 108 grams (3.8 ounces). They were originally issued in red velvet-lined, dark green faux leather cases reading “PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION” in an arch with “1901” beneath the arched words. We feel these medals are some of the finest examples of numismatic art from the early 20th century.
Why a census?
Contemporary accounts seem to put the total number of Pan-American Exhibition medals awarded at about 3,000. But today, 120 years after the fair, the consensus seems to be that surviving medals are quite rare. Perhaps fewer than 40 or 50 examples of each medal still exists (many of which exhibit damage and wear). Because each medal bears the name of its respective award winner, we are attempting to document each known medal for the edification of the broader numismatic community and to determine to the best of our ability just how many medals survive.
Do you have a MacNeil medal not listed in our census?
We’d love to hear from you and to add your medal to the census. Please note we are not currently collecting information about the various so-called dollars, encased coins, official visitor souvenir medal of the fair, ribbons, or the numerous exhibitor merchant tokens that feature the striding woman and buffalo on one side (cream separator, almond paste, etc.). But if you have an actual bronze, silver, gilt, or gold award medal, with the front and back as seen below, please reach out to us with a description and an image of the front and back (obverse and reverse) so that we can confidentially add your medal to our census and assign your medal a Pan-American Census number: [email protected]
© 2023 by The Pan-American Census Project. All Rights Reserved. No content, including images or census material, may be copied or reproduced without express written consent from The Pan-American Census Project.