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Award Medals from the California State Fair and their Precursors

(2020)


Multi-Media Summary

The first agricultural fairs in California, organized by Colonel J.L.L.F. Warren in 1852, set the stage for the formation of the California State Agricultural Society and its State Fair which continues to this day. Colonel Warren, following his New England background in such fairs, awarded medals to worthy exhibitors in his two early fairs. Likewise, the State Agricultural Society awarded actual prize medals from 1858 until the mid-1970s in a wide variety of designs, sizes and metals. In this presentation, Dr. Michael F. Wehner will discuss the development of these medals and the symbolism of their varying designs. Wehner is past president of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society. This presentation was part of the 2020 Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium, held virtually, August 28-30, 2020.
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