1923 Pony Express Medal

The 1923 Pony Express medal picturing a pony and rider obverse and the inscription “ST. JOSEPH, MO TO SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. / WELLS FARGO / NEVADA / NATIONAL BANK / OF / SAN FRANCISCO / SINCE 1852” on the reverse.

In 1923 the Pony Express Memorial Association re-enacted the 1861 celebrated ride of the Pony Express carrying President Lincoln’s inaugural address to California. Many teams were In the race to break the original record of 7 days, and 7 hours. The race stated in Saint Joseph, Missouri with 50 teams participating with messages from governors of the east plus the President to west coast governors and citizens, The Wells Fargo National Bank presented gold medal to the winning members of the team. Coincidentally the winning team last rider was the grandson of Mr. Lloyd Tevis, Wells Fargo longtime president.

That day Tevis team broke the record by 42 hours, with Tevis changing horses every 10 miles. To celebrate this event the bank offered bronze replicas of the gold medal to new depositor’s interest bearing time accounts. Designed by Maynard Dixon, one of the most important western artist of his day. The medal is in excellent condition.