Coins, Currency, Cards and Collectibles
By Douglas Keefe
Atlantic City was never one to miss an opportunity to have a celebration, one that hopefully would bring more visitors to the shore. Usually there was all sorts of advertising that went into the promotion and souvenirs produced to commemorate the event. Two such events that resulted in the minting of collectible medals were the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Atlantic City, issued in 1904; and the 100th anniversary of the building of the first boardwalk, issued in 1970.
The medal minted for the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Atlantic City is a beautiful design featuring a nude female bather being covered by a wave in the ocean with the sun in the background and “1854 ATLANTIC CITY 1904” written around the lower rim. On the reverse is the seal of Atlantic City. It is made of a gold gilt metal, slightly larger than a silver dollar and with a loop soldered to the top for a ribbon to pass through.
There were three medals about the size of a silver dollar issued for the 100th anniversary of the first boardwalk constructed in Atlantic City, all featuring the same design but minted in aluminum, copper or silver. The design is that of the old boardwalk with bathhouses, people strolling the boards in period dress, a horse-drawn wagon transporting people and bathers at the ocean. Around the rim at the top “ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK” and at 3 o’clock “1870 CENTENNIAL 1970”. A very detailed design. The reverse again features the seal of Atlantic City with “CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY – INCORPORATED MARCH 1854” around the rim. These were sold either individually or in numbered sets. Whereas the 50th anniversary medal is scarce, the boardwalk medals are much more available and can be obtained at a modest price, the silver one commanding a price only slightly higher than its silver value.
I am a resident of Brigantine and the next medal on my list is from here in Brigantine and commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Brigantine in 1897. The medal, also the size of a silver dollar, features a rendering of the new Brigantine bridge and the lighthouse at the entrance to the city on a stretch of land labeled “BRIGANTINE ISLAND”. Lettered around the rim are the words “A LIGHT FROM OUR PAST – A BRIDGE TO OUR FUTURE” and the Indian name for Brigantine “WATAMOONICA”. The reverse shows the seal of the city with the inscription “100 YEARS CITY OF BRIGANTINE” and around the edge “BRIGANTINE BEACH, NEW JERSEY 1897-1997”.
The bridge represented on this medal replaced the old drawbridge that connected Atlantic City to Brigantine. I’m sure all of us who lived here before the new bridge was constructed had at least one experience where we were stranded on one side of the bridge or the other because the bridge would not go down. The medal features the new bridge with a high enough span that allows boat traffic to pass underneath. And as for the lighthouse, it was never a functional lighthouse but was an advertising gimmick erected by The Brigantine Island Development Company in the 1920s.
I am not as familiar with this medal as I should be. The one I have is struck in pure silver, is numbered and comes in a presentation box with a certificate. I have heard a rumor that there is at least one example struck in gold. If a reader could share more information about this medal, I will provide an update in a future column.
Beachcomber Coins and Collectibles has been in business since 1970 and is managed by Douglas Keefe and his wife Linda. Formerly located in the Shore Mall, they are now in their own store just west on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township. While they no longer offer retail sales, they still do extensive buying of most collectibles and precious metals. Current information and store hours can be obtained online at beachcombercoinsinc. com.
