A 1939 New York World's Fair souvenir medal joining the Fair's two great themes — the futuristic and the historic.

• Fair side: the Trylon and Perisphere, the Fair's Art Deco icons, with sunburst rays and "IN 1939 / NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR" (design-patent marked)
• Inauguration side: George Washington taking the presidential oath, "SOUVENIR OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY / GEORGE WASHINGTON'S INAUGURATION"
• White/base metal souvenir token, ~32 mm

Condition: Our in-house estimate is About Uncirculated for detail, but honestly noted with environmental discoloration — orange/yellow staining and some field haze on both sides, as pictured. The strike and design are crisp; the surfaces show their 85+ years. Raw and uncertified, offered exactly as shown.

Historical context: The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, "Building the World of Tomorrow," opened at Flushing Meadows and was timed to the 150th anniversary of George Washington's 1789 inauguration in New York, the nation's first capital. The Trylon and Perisphere became the defining symbols of the Fair and of Depression-era optimism, appearing on souvenirs of every kind — of which this little medal is one.

Series note: 1939 World's Fair memorabilia has a deep, devoted collector base, and the Trylon-and-Perisphere imagery is among the most sought Art Deco motifs in American exonumia — which gives even a common souvenir token a steady audience.

Curiosity Coins — Medway, Massachusetts | Est. 1999 | ANA • PCGS • NGC • Heritage Auctions Member / Buying & selling US and world coins, silver, gold, currency, and collectibles since 1999. Many auctions start at $5 — combined shipping always available. Questions welcome.