1959 Official Hawaii Statehood Medal Progression Set and a Part 3 teaser...

I have only found two instances where a similar progression set was listed at a major auction house (Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers May 2006 and Stack's September 2006).

MedalBlog (A Worldpress blog) by D. Wayne Johnson (corporate historian and senior consultant for the Medallic Art Company and was director of research with Medallic Art Company from January 1966 until December 1976) answered a question by a reader who has a progression set (in addition to plaster castings of the obverse and reverse).

At the 2012 ANA Money Show, 1st place in Class 1 (History and Politics) had a display exhibit that was titled, "The Official 1959 Hawaii Statehood Medals -- Gold, Silver and Copper, Plus Corresponding Five Piece Die Process Set."

From this I can conclude that from the 30 documented progression sets, 5 have somewhat been accounted for.

This 1st place display winner is very similar to my custom set (The Official Hawaii Statehood Medals). However, the 1959 Official Hawaii Statehood Medals were technically Gold, Sterling Silver and Bronze and consisted of six variations based on metal, Niihau spelling (error vs. non-error) and lack of a serial number on the sterling silver medal.

My updated custom set (with the progression set added).

http://preview.outside-affiliatelinksnotallowed.com/ckhc5yx

I have concluded that this 1959 Official Hawaii Statehood Medal progression set was created by Medallic Art Company for the medal's national distributor, The Coin and Currency Institute Inc. of New York and California.

Why this conclusion?

I have also acquired another excellent find.... A 1959 Official Alaska Statehood Medal progression set!!!

It has the exact dimensions, workmanship, color scheme, letter typeset, material, etc...However, this set consists of 7 stages (9 total medals).

I have not found any auction listing or reference to this Alaska set at all. I'm hoping it to be a unique progression set (investigation still in progress).

What I have found is an ad in the May 1960 issue of the Numismatist in which The Coin and Currency Institute Inc. of New York and California is promoting the Hawaii and Alaska Statehood Medals simultaneously. Thereby, it is feasible that both progression sets were used to promote the medals for sale at the same location.

Stay tune for Part 3....

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