(Sold on ebay April, 2019) HK-327, Official Medal of the 1905 Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland, OR. Also catalogued in Swoger, as well as SH 14-1 (R-6) in Jeff Shevlin's new text on West Coast Exposition medals. In the Shevlin reference he mentions confusion over the actual composition/surface of these. Jeff has chosen to use the term "Gold-Plated" in his book rather than the term "Gilt" as traditionally used in H-K, the difference being technical and based on how the surface was applied. In all cases those two terms define a process used to deposit a layer of Gold on a surface, rather than a non-precious metal plating. I am of the belief that some "Gilt" medals are in fact Brass-plated, rather than using Gold, more likely after the turn of the Century when electricity became widely available. Absent x-ray spectography, the specific surface content remains subject to opinion. Well preserved Yellow Brass looks amazingly like Gold, so it is difficult to tell unless actual wear allows exposure of the underlying metal. Based upon the color of the surface and the light toning present, I believe this to be Gold Plated, however it may be an extraordinarily well preserved Brass copy; if so it is scarcer still. This is close to Gem, very original and problem free with nice color and luster. As of October, 2018, 11 in the grade at NGC, with 6 finer, not that makes it "common" (I never see any and I am 80 miles from where they were distributed). Valued in Jeff's book at $350 in MS-63, $475 in MS-65.

NGC 4709431-002