Expert: Dan Moore - 2/14/2011

Question
Have attempted to find info on this medal and have gotten close, but not exactly. This is a .999 apparent commemorative medal (part of the Longines Symphonette Society Great American Triumphs Medals), showing on front a raised image of Peary with American Flag in hands and others in the background. Peary Finds North Pole 1909 appears on upper front in raised upper casing letters. Reverse of medal has a raised eagle clutching a branch, with "After more than twenty years of arctic expolration, Robert E. Peary finally reached  the North Pole in 109. A prior claim by a former ship's surgeon created a bitter controversy which ended in Peary's favor." in raised upper casing letters. The front also bears the initials JDL, while the reverse bears an emblem of some sort resembling an old script letter d to the right of eagle on bottom right.
    Anything you may be able to tell me about this medal would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you very much.

Answer
Victor,

About all I can tell you is that it came from a set of privately minted medals sold through fancy-worded ads to novice collectors.

I have seen these in bullion bins on dealers' tables at the coin shows.  The only value they have is for the metal they contain.

You can check current metal values at: http:/www.kitco.com

I hope this helps,

Dan