So-Called Dollars

PORTOLA FESTIVAL
1913
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

NOTE: See also Part I, Portola Festival--1909.

Medal struck to commemorate 400th anniversary of discovery of Pacific Ocean by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. Organization almost identical with that of 1909 Festival; city-wide affair, held Oct. 22-25, 1913; out-of-town visitors approximated 1,250,000. Program also similar to prior one except Balboa, instead of Portola, arrived by water through Golden Gate; "thirty-three nations actively participated." Four-day carnival permitted visitors to inspect work progress on 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition (listed Part I). This was Official Medal; designer and number struck unknown.


Photos courtesy of W. David Perkins

Obv. Within circle, full figure of female dancer; outside, above Portola Festival; outside, below • San Francisco, Oct. 22-25, 1913 •
Rev. Within circle, figure of upright dancing bear, holding key in l. front paw.

HK-397 Brass. Octagonal. 35mm x 35mm.

HK-396