1884 Mechanics Institute of San Francisco Award Medal. Gold. 49.1 mm. 61.7 grams. Choice Very Fine.；<strong>Obv:</strong> Allegorical representation of the Three Virtues, one standing and extending crowning laurels to the others seated to her left and right. Oddly punctuated MECHANICS INSTITUTE inscribed above and SAN FRANCISCO below. Barely visible in the panel below is W. R. & H. D., which has been deliberately effaced. In later years this inscription would be completely removed from the die. <strong>Rev:</strong> Inscription INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION / AWARDED TO above an open laurel wreath enclosing the engraved script inscription PACIFIC / THOMPSON - HOUSTON / ELECTRIC LIGHT / AND POWER COMPANY / DISPLAY OF / ELECTRIC LIGHT. Date 1884 stamped in panel below. Signed KUNER F. above date. <strong>Edge:</strong> Plain except for the number 3 stamped at 12 oclock. Myriad tiny scratches and contact marks are evident in the fields of both sides, however none are individually distracting. There are also several edge nicks and bumps, one of them, at 1 oclock on the obverse is particularly notable. <p>Albert Kuner (1819-1906) is regarded the first engraver to reach California, and created dies for many of the large size and small denomination California gold coins.；
