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About Ronald Fern
Expertise
I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience
Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently st my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

You are here: Experts > Shopping > Coin Collecting > Coin Collecting > medallion

Coin Collecting - medallion

Expert: Ronald Fern - 11/8/2009

Question
hey Ronald,
I have an unusual medallion and would like to find out some information and value as well. It is about 3 inces in diameter, has a futuristic vehicle with a wing on one side, farm machine on the reverse. Copyrighted by Norman Bel Geddes 1933. Commorates thge 25 anniversary of GM. The only thing I can find on it online is a photo on the MET website: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dsgn2/ho_33.150.1,2.htm
Its in a little worse condition than the photo.
Thanks alot for your time, I appreciate your help.
scott

Answer
Hi Scott:

I wasn't familiar with the medal you talk of, but expected it maybe connected to the Chicago or NY World's Fairs, because of the date, 1933. I took your link and entered some of the information on a search engine I use, "Dogpile", and found the following:

"Norman Bel Geddes (1893-1958) was a pioneer of streamlined automobile styling. In 1927 he designed a streamlined prototype car for the Graham-Page company, but like most of his work this design was never produced in numbers. Bel Geddes' influence as a proponent and publicist of industrial design, streamlining and automobilism was substantially greater than that of the few products manufactured from his designs.

In 1933 Bel Geddes designed a medal 'To the advancement of motor transportation' to commemorate the 25th anniversary of General Motors. This medal bore the embossed legend 'Norman Bel Geddes C. 1933' at bottom center.

Bel Geddes' most notable publicity achievement was the General Motors' Futurama pavilion at the 1939 New York World's fair. Futurama featured models of Bel Geddes' predicted 'modern' city of 1960."

See Link: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=149508%26img=15347

The medal was made by Rene Chambellan for Medallic Art Company, New York, in Silverplated Brass. See link: http://www.wolfsonian.org/collections/c5/c5_travel15.html

There was no listing for your item on eBay in either active or completed sales. I'm sure there are examples out there somewhere and that your item, while not unique, where it is over 75 years old, could be considered scarce, and worth about $20 to $25 to an interested collector.

You may want to check eBay listings in the exonumia category under coins and currency from time to time to see if the medal like yours is listed and what it is going for.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

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