Panama-Pacific International Exposition Souvenir Token Honoring California Gold Rush, 1915

01

Artifact Overview

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition celebrated the 1914 completion of the Panama Canal and the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. Nearly nineteen million people visited San Francisco, recently recovered from a devastating 1906 earthquake, during the fair in 1915. Many returned home with mementos, such as this souvenir token honoring the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Token

Date Made

1915

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.100.225

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Nate S. Shapero and Ruth B. Shapero.

Material

Metal

Dimensions

Height: 1.5625 in
Width: 1.5625 in

Inscriptions

side 1: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / CALIFORNIA side 2: IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG, USED BY PIONEERS / 1850 / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY DOLLS.