1881 American Numismatic Society Cleopatras Needle Medal. White Metal. 41.2 mm. Miller-5, Johnson-Unlisted. Prooflike Mint State.；<strong>Obv:</strong> Eagle over Federal and New York City Arms gazes toward a towering obelisk against a radiant field. <strong>Rev:</strong> Eleven-line inscription recording the obelisks erection by Pharaoh Thothmes III at Heliopolis, relocation to Alexandria by Roman Emperor Augustus, and transport to New York in 1881. Egyptian Khedive (Viceroy) Ismail (Ismael Pasha 1830-1895) presented this obelisk to the United States and a group of wealthy New Yorkers led by William H. Vanderbilt financed relocation of the multi-ton ancient stone relic to New York Citys Central Park. Still housed in a pristine descriptive presentation folder personally inscribed on the back to the New York Produce Exchange on June 1, 1882 from noted Lincolniana collector Robert Hewett, Jr., second vice president of the ANS at that time, and a member of the committee responsible for the medal. Hewett is primarily remembered today as the founder of The Circle Of Friends Of The Medallion which produced Americas first series of art medals. This medal and its folder are in remarkably well preserved. This lot also includes what is apparently the top and bottom of the cardboard box in which the folder was originally housed. The top is embossed DEMPSEY & CARROLL / ART STATIONERS / 46 EAST 14th STREET / UNION SQUARE / NEW YORK. / STORE OF THE MERIDEN CO. (Total: 4 items)；From the Michael Druck Collection.
