1923 John Wanamaker 12th Annual Children's Christmas Drawing Competition Medal. For Sale

1923 John Wanamaker 12th Annual Children's Christmas Drawing Competition Medal.

Historical Overview

• The Issuer: Issued by the famous John Wanamaker Department Store based in Philadelphia and New York.

• The Event: Wanamaker held an annual drawing competition for school children.

Winners across different age categories received commemorative medals.

• The Design Theme: Each annual iteration featured a portrait of a United States President in sequential order matching the competition year.

• This Specific Medal: Because this piece commemorates the Twelfth Annual Competition (held in 1923), it depicts Zachary Taylor, the twelfth president of the United States.

Historical BackgroundHost: The competition was hosted by John Wanamaker, a famous American merchant and pioneer in marketing who founded one of the first department stores in the United States.Event Purpose: Wanamaker's department stores (with major hubs located in New York, Philadelphia, Paris, and London) held these annual drawing contests to encourage creativity and artistic expression among children during the holiday season.Material & Design: These 35mm to 37mm tokens were typically struck in white metal, bronze, or brass. The reverse side shown here features a classical laurel wreath tied with a bow at the bottom. The obverse (front) side of these specific competition medals traditionally featured a portrait of a U.S. President.