2017-04-01 Sat

On 26th April, Sotheby’s decorative art auction in New York will be offering two gold medals that celebrate Charles Lindbergh’s historic 1927 transatlantic flight in his plane named Spirit of St. Louis from New York to Paris.

The obverse features the Spirit of St. Louis flying overseas. Other inscriptions include RAYMOND ORTEIG $25,000 PRIZE FUND, hand inscription RAYMOND ORTEIG DONOR and JEAN ORTEIG ASSISTANT TREASURER. The reverse depicts the description CAPTAIN CHARLES A. LINDBERGH MAY 20–21, 1927, NON-STOP FLIGHT – NEW YORK TO PARIS. The medals are being offered with an estimated value of $10,000 to $15,000.

Raymond Orteig was a hotel owner who started the Orteig Prize award worth $25,000 for the first person to fly between New York City and Paris. Before Charles, six men died in three different crashes while attempting the same flight. Lindbergh got his prize on 16th June 1927, at a ceremony at the Breevort Hotel in New York City.