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273
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Commemorative Silver Coins/Hawaii
Medals and Tokens
H
AWAII
M
EDALS
AND
T
OKENS
R
ARE
1883 R
OYAL
H
AWAIIAN
S
ILVER
M
EDAL
1745
Hawaii. Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Silver Medal
.
Choice Uncirculated
. Engraved on the reverse: "Premium for the Best
Exhibited Imported Jersey Cow H. R. Macfarlane". 64 mm, 128.4 g, plain edge. Beautiful toning on both sides, and the obverse bears semi-
reflective surface. Housed in the original wooden box as issued.
H. R. Macfarlane was the founder of Hawaiian Drayage and Supply Company (Foreign Office & Executive archive series 401 box 1 folder 3
document #34). He initially imported a Jersey cow from California in 1882, then in 1883 he imported a Jersey bull to breed (Planter's Monthly
Volume V, 1886), and that was how he earned this medal. Besides Jersey Cow, he was also very successful in importing Durham bulls and
cows to Hawaii from California and New Zealand.
The Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society Medal is a silver medal which was issued by the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society, which was active
in the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1850s-on. The Society presented the medal annually to the best in each category of a juried exhibition of
Hawaiian agricultural products.
The earlier 1850-dated medals were produced at the United States Mint, while those carrying the 1882 issue date were struck in England,
according the the Medcalf-Russell reference book on these. The number of specimens minted is unknown.
The obverse includes symbols of agricultural enterprise in the Hawaiian Islands -- sugar and coffee -- and implements and vehicles of trade -
- the plow and tall ships; the eastern sun is rising in the background, with a palm to the left and royal crown above all. The inscription around
the edge reads "Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society. Established A.D. 1882." The reverse has a wreath surrounded by the inscription "Pre-
mium for the best exhibited" with a center field for prize category and awardee's name. The medal was engraved by Francis N. Mitchell.
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................. $8,000 - 10,000
