British and World Coins. Tokens and Historical Medals

Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1879, a bronze medal by W.H. Key, bust of Eli Price left, reverse owl of Athens above arms, 42mm (BDM III, 146). Extremely fine, light patina, scarce (£30-40)

William H. Key, medallist and die-sinker from Brooklyn, was appointed assistant engraver at the Philadelphia mint in 1864, under James B. Longacre. The Society was founded on 1 Jan. 1858; Eli K. Price was its president in 1879. Interestingly, the coat of arms incorporates a Chinese cash coin and a sphinx