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Pike's Peak "Southwest Expedition" Centennial Celebration

The 1906 Pike’s Peak or “Southwest Expedition” Centennial was established by the Zebulon Montgomery Pike Monument Association in 1896, which planned to erect a bronze statue of Pike “of heroic size”. Ten years of fundraising efforts included officially legislated ‘souvenir medallions’ as sponsored by then Republican Representative at Large Franklin Brooks.

House Resolution 13805 was amended and passed on May 17, 1906. With the Southwest Expedition Centennial celebration to be held only four months away, the Denver mint was initially proposed by Rep. Brooks of Colorado to produce this medal, however due to time and delays in starting up the new Denver Mint and the rush to get into production led to the ease of producing these medals in rapid fashion to meet the celebration date of Sep. 23-29, 1906.

Charles E. Barber, Chief Engraver of the mint at the time, designed both the obverse and reverse of this medal, with consultation and approval from Rep. Brooks and the Zebulon Montgomery Pike Monument Association, a corporation, as designated by the Legislation.

Rep. Brooks officially ordered the first batch of these medals, 1,000 bronze and 1,000 Silver medals. Upon receipt, he then asked "can you not treat silver with french or gray finish resembling oxidized silver?" Subsequent orders were thus filled. A total of 6,250 bronze, 250 bronze with gold plate, and 4,450 silver medals were produced according to official Mint Records.