1902 The Horticultural Society of New York First Place Award Medal. Gold. 37 mm. 23.6 grams. Mint State.，<strong>Obv:</strong> A woman in flowing dress holding a laurel wreath in her right hand above a lake. <strong>Rev:</strong> Demi-wreath at right, AWARDED TO above, engraved below MRS. WM. A. M. BURDEN / FOR / DISPLAY OF VEGETABLES / 1930. Not marked as to gold content. In the early days of this award, at least, the first place winners had the option of accepting either the gold medal or a $50 cash prize. With the official value of gold for the years between 1902 and when this was presented in 1930 fixed at $20.67/ounce, it seems likely that this is struck in a high fineness gold -- and that more people would opt for the cash award rather than the medal which would have had less than half that value in gold. Similar to the example sold in the Presidential Coin and Antique Company sale of the Emerson Areds Collection of Gold Medals, December 1995, lot 34.
