101803 | UNITED STATES & FRANCE. San Francisco Earthquake bronze Medal.

101803  |  UNITED STATES & FRANCE. San Francisco Earthquake bronze Medal. Issued 1906. Commemorating the resurrection of the city (90mm, 280.27 g, 12h). By L.-A. Bottée at the Paris mint.

 

1906 SAN-FRANCISCO, civic personification of San Francisco standing facing, rising from ruins and lifting veil from her face; radiant star above, partially leveled cityscape in background / AU PEUPLE AMERICAIN ET A LA VILLE DE SAN-FRANCISCO, Marianne seated slightly left, head turned back to left, resting hand upon rudder and raising laurel branch; at a distance across the ocean, radiant eagle with American shield; SYMPATHIE / ADMIRATION / LA RÉPUBLIQUE / FRANÇAISE. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE.

 

Cf. Maier 140 & p. 199 (note). Choice Mint State. Lighter bronze-brown surfaces, with a charming matte nature; some minor scattered spots of green are noted here and there. Extremely attractive and a fairly rare piece–especially when encountered this alluring and problem free.

 

Ex Richard Jewell Collection.

 

San Francisco was devastated by a massive earthquake in 1906, causing a rebuild of much of the city. This medal honors the rebirth of the city, with France acknowledging the hardship from afar. Bottée later channeled this obverse design in his commemorative plaque used for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition just a decade later, partially meant to honor the opening of the Panama Canal but also as a celebration of San Francisco's reemergence.