Norse-American medal

Norse-American medal^[1]

United States
Diameter	Gold: 24 mm Silver: 29 mm Bronze: 69.5 mm
Thickness	Gold: 2 mm Thin silver: 1.6 mm Thick silver: 2 mm Bronze: 4.5 mm
Edge	plain
Composition	Gold: 90.0% gold, 10.0% copper Silver: 90.0% silver, 10.0% copper Bronze: 90.0% copper, 10.0% zinc, with silver plating
Years of minting	1925
Mintage	Gold: 100 (less 47 melted) Thin silver: 6,000 Thick silver: 33,750 Bronze: est. 60–75
Mint marks	None, all pieces struck at Philadelphia Mint without mint mark.
Obverse
Design	Viking warrior
Designer	James Earle Fraser
Design date	1925
Reverse
Design	Viking longship
Designer	James Earle Fraser
Design date	1925

The Norse-American medal was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1925, pursuant to an act of the United States Congress. It was issued for the 100th anniversary of the voyage of the ship Restauration, bringing early Norwegian immigrants to the United States.

U.S. Representative from Minnesota Ole Juulson Kvale, a Norwegian American, wanted a commemorative for the centennial celebrations of the Restauration journey. Rebuffed by the Treasury Department when he sought the issuance of a special coin, he instead settled for a medal. Sculpted by Buffalo nickel designer James Earle Fraser, the medals recognize those immigrants' Viking heritage, depicting a warrior of that culture on the obverse and his vessel on the reverse. The medals also recall the early Viking explorations of North America.

Once authorized by Congress, they were produced in various metals and sizes, for the most part prior to the celebrations near Minneapolis in June 1925. Only 53 were issued in gold, and they are rare and valuable today; those struck in silver or bronze have appreciated much less in value. They are sometimes collected as part of the U.S. commemorative coin series.