OK, I am sure you were expecting Pikes Peak Marathon (and Ascent) finisher medals but I find these medals even more fascinating and much harder to obtain. However, for you diehard Pikes Peak runners there is one Pikes Peak Marathon medal below along with several links related to it.
Note: In 1891 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names recommended an end to using possessive forms in place names. In 1978 the Colorado legislature established the spelling as “Pikes Peak” so it is spelled without an apostrophe by law. However, I have used an apostrophe if it was used on the medal.
Notes: I don’t know anything about this medallion other than it is not a nickel!
It is big, it is heavy and it is very cool. Charles Hartman put the elevation of Pikes Peak
at 14,109 feet in 1907 and it was changed by the USGS in 1913 to 14,110 feet. Although that
helps with the date it often took people a while to get caught up.
Notes: This was the first medallion of my collection and at one point I had three before I gave one to the COG Railway for their generous support of the Barr Trail Mountain Race.
Zalmon G. Simmons, builder and first owner of the Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway, had this medal made for the 1905 Denver
Encampment of the G.A.R. Each attending member also received a trip to the summit on the Cog. The Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War
veterans organization founded in 1866, reached it’s largest membership in 1890 with over 490,000 members. In 1949, the six surviving members permanently
closed the G.A.R.
Notes: I have acquired three of these. Two Bronze and one Sterling Silver Proof. I scanned a side from each format.
This is one of a 200 medal series depicting the history of the USA. For each year one side lists the major events for
the year and the other side depicts the most important. Here is the informational paper that came with the medal. Two per month were released with the bronze version coming out 3
months later. There was also 1 Platinum version minted at a cost of $950. The Franklin Mint also has a mini-coin version of this which is HMC 31.
Notes: I have three of these. Two Silver and one Gold. Again one side from each has been shown. The 3D look of this medal is just awesome! This is perhaps my favorite so far other than the Gachupin medal;-)
This is a Gold Plated or Sterling Silver antique finished medal done in high relief.
It is part of Danbury collection called “History Of The United States,” made up of two hundred of the most significant events that occurred each year.
I was told that these are quite rare, as many were melted in the early 1980s when the price of silver soared. I guess that could apply to all of my Silver medals
but of course I may have been told that so the price of my purchase went up;-)
Notes: The image may appear a little flat because the medallion is encased in a cardboard cachet that has never been opened making it harder to scan. The medal also
came with the original envelope that was used to send it to the original buyer (name removed
from the scan) as well as a neat little informational piece on Zebulon Pike. This is also part of
a Franklin Mint collection and is a “medallic cover” that combines numismatics (money) and philately (stamps). This series
of 50 cachets honoring the greatest explorers of the last 1000 years was issued 1 per month and were postmarked near the place of
discovery, in this case Pueblo.
Notes: I have 2 of these. I like the image of Pike climbing through the wilderness. Part of a series of medallions featuring “Great Americans” throughout history.
Notes: This is another “medallic cover” and I have two of these with one still in the origanal cachet and envelope. I love the quote on the back of the medal. It is often taken out of context in that he was not saying that it could not be ascended but on that day, in those conditions (see the Danbury Mint medal above) he did not think it was climbable.
Besides, given that no one climbed it that day he was right:-)
Notes: Another favorite of mine (OK I know that is more than one). Part of a series of medals commemorating outstanding landmarks of Colorado.
This one came with a really neat booklet. It has a very good summary of Pikes Peak’s discovery in it. So good I scanned it in for you to read. It does a great job of dispelling the myth that Pike was claiming that the peak would never be climbed.
Notes: A very neat coin that came in a blue plastic hodler which reads: Official Pikes Peak or Bust by 76 Centennial-Bicentennial Celebration commemorating Colorado’s 100th and the nation’s 200th anniversary. I really like this one:-):-)
Notes: The plastic holder that this one came in was so neat I just scanned it in as well. As you can see both formats of the medal came together. I really like this one — too!
Notes: The person I got this from said they thought it was issued by the Franklin Mint.
Notes: Looks like a watch FOB. I got this one because of the altitude listed which makes it
somewhat older. Like the Lucky Nickel above 14,109' was used from 1907 to 1913. Also has a simular view as the Lucky Nickel.
 
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Notes: I have three. The top left scan is from the Bronze format. The top right is the Oxidized Silver format and the bottom two are from the Silver proof. I found a lot of information on this medallion in the 1963 book So called dollars by Hibler and Kappen. These were stuck to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Pikes Peak in 1806. In December of 1896 the Pike Monument Association was formed and planned to erect a statue of Pike “of heroic size and in enduring bronze.” The big celebration 10 years later was financed by the sale of the medallion which was authorized by the 59th Congress and designed by Charles E. Barber and sold through the local banks and the Chamber of Congress. The celebration opened on a Sunday with parades, polo matches, band concerts, a golf tournament and a rodeo. Major highlights included an address by the vice president of the USA, Charles W. Fairbanks, and the unveiling of a bronze tablet on the summit of Pikes Peak and a historic marker in Antlers Park. An “imitation” medal was put out at the same time by an independent outfit and newspapers urged people to buy “only the genuine authorized medal.” At any rate, the statue never materialized and the PMA soon disappeared. A large portion (4000) of the medals were delivered late and were all but forgotten until 1955 when they were found in the basement of the First National Bank during it’s demolition. As luck would have it the following year (1956) was the sesquicentennial (150) year celebration of the discovery of Pike Peak and again the medals were sold (this time by the Historic Society of the Pikes Peak region) to raise funds for it. At that time the loops of the medals were “expertly removed” to make them more appealing to the collector.
Bronze medal info: Hibler - Kappen so-called dollar HK-338, EF condition
Silver medal info: Hibler - Kappen so-called dollar HK-336, Uncirculated
Silver proof info: Hibler - Kappen so-called dollar HK-335, proof
Other versions that I do not have:
Gold Plated: Hibler - Kappen so-called dollar HK-337, 250 minted, Extra Rare (2-20) in 1963
“Imitation”: Hibler - Kappen so-called dollar HK-339
Notes: OK, I know what your are thinking, “I thought you said this was not a collection of Pikes Peak race medals.” Well, while the
medal was later given out at the race as an award it started out as a commemorative medal for the Pikes Peak Marathon put out by
the financial institutions in the area. That someone other than runners would make the medal is what makes it more special I think as opposed to the medals that are handed out today by the race itself. That being said I am working on a finisher medal and pin page. At any rate, this one was sold
for $1 at banks and savings and loan associations as well as at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo gate. The Pikes Peak relief is the same one
that was used on the Bill Smartt marathon award medallion designed by John Fetler, a local sculptor.
An article appearing in the August 8th, 1968 Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph announced the medal celebrating the 13th
annual PPM which took place on the previous Sunday, August 4th. The same Sunday in which Gachupin won his 3rd PPM and lowered the record to 3:39:47 thus in effect making the medal
obsolete before it was even announced — lucky number 13! Steve went on to win 3 more bringing his haul to six straight wins. As of 2002 Gachupin has run the race 21 times (1972 and 73 yet to be input).
Here is an article that appeared before the 2001 races on this great runner.
Notes: Not so much a Pikes Peak medal but it does show an Arapahoe at a spring in Manitou with Pikes Peak looming in the background. The idea
for the design is credited to Mrs. Mary Nakai, who operated a small gift shop in Manitou. The medal was struck in Italy for Medalmatics.
Again the depth of this medal is amazing. I love it! There were 10 issued in Gold-plate that were given to Manitou Mayor Ralph Sumner who gave
them to the members of his town council. 50 were minted in Silver-plate without the loop and sold by local
coin shops. 500 where minted in the style that I have with the loop and they were offered to tourists
visiting the gift shops of Manitou Springs. With the medal I got the original Medalmatics informational letter sent to the buyer
because the original buyer thought they were solid Silver due to a misprint in Numismatic Scrapbook. It was explained that none were solid Silver and that
the buyer could return the medal if he was not happy. Apparently he was happy and kept it for many years.
Notes: I have two of these. Despite the naysayers the first road to the summit of Pikes Peak was completed in 1887. It took many a tourist to the top for $1 each. However the carriage road was allowed to go to pieces after the COG railway opened in 1891.
With the backing of Spencer Penrose a new automobile highway was finished to the summit of Pikes Peak on July 16, 1916 using much of the old carriage road right-of-way. Just two months later (an awesome public relations move) on September 5, 1916 the first Pikes Peak Hill Climb auto race was held and was a huge success. By 1925 car traffic was accounting for 75% of the traffic to the peak. Because of this the automobile company was able to purchase the COG road which turned out to be a very smart move because in 1936 the auto highway was turned over to the United State Forest Service.
Notes: This appears to be a token. It is light aluminum. The 14,147 Peak elevation dates it to pre 1907 when the altitude was put 14,109'.
Notes: OK, it said Pikes Peak on it and Good Luck — what more could you ask for:-)
Notes: On the rim you can see where it looks like a loop was filed off.
Notes: This appears to be another token. However it is not light like aluminum.
Notes: I wish mine did not have that “R” on it because then it might be the real thing. Even so the restrike is also rare. Robert W. Hoge has this to say about the coin on the American Numismatic Association website;
Near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, the present site of Denver, Colorado, a party of prospectors from Georgia discovered productive placer deposits of very pure gold in the summer of 1858. The great
“Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush” resulted. As major strikes continued, the population burgeoned, and commerce quickly felt the need for an increased money supply. Several private firms took up the challenge, and began to
mint their own coins. This was done because of the difficulty in transacting business in gold dust. The highly regarded Leavenworth, Kansas, mercantile and banking firm of Clark, Gruber & Co. determined to establish a
mint in Denver and issue gold coins valued at $2 1/2, $5, $10, and $20. With machinery and equipment bought in Philadelphia and New York, production began in July 1860. Each coin actually contained more gold than its United
States government counterpart, with an intrinsic value slightly higher than its face value. This, combined with the savings of 10% for the freight and insurance costs to send raw gold east for minting--a lengthy and uncertain
procedure at best — made the new coins immediately popular among the miners and merchants. In 1864, the Federal Government purchased the coining equipment of Clark Gruber & Co., to operate a mint in Denver. While it
functioned as an assay office, it was not until 1906 that the mint was finally established. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the mint, two hundred sets of J.J.Conway coins were restruck in goldine (a brass alloy) from
the original dies in 1956. I *think* this is where this restrike came from. Finally, no less than 20 people have asked about this coin and what it is worth. I do not collect gold coins, just Pikes Peak stuff. I can only tell you
that I have seen quite a few of these in the $10-$20 price range on E-bay. Now if you have one without the R (or a C or a COPY) then you are sitting pretty - multi thousands of $:-)
