Lot 110

William Taft Sterling Silver "Panama Canal" Groundbreaking Commemorative Spade

Previous image preload Next image preload

William Taft Sterling Silver "Panama Canal" Groundbreaking Commemorative Spade

Estimate: $300 - $400

Current Bid: $100

(1 Bid)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

William Taft
n.p., ca. 1915
William Taft Sterling Silver "Panama Canal" Groundbreaking Commemorative Spade
Relic

Exceptional and historically significant replica sterling silver commemorative miniature spade shovel produced by the prestigious San Francisco jeweler Shreve & Co. to honor the groundbreaking ceremony for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1911, ahead of the fair's grand opening in 1915. The obverse bears the engraved inscription:

"USED BY
William Howard Taft
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 14, 1911 IN TURNING THE
FIRST SPADEFUL OF EARTH FOR THE
PANAMA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION
TO BE HELD IN
SAN FRANCISCO
1915"

The reverse is stamped "STERLING" confirming its sterling silver composition and early production status. Condition displays attractive age patina and light handling wear consistent with age and preservation as a collectible presentation souvenir. Measures 4".

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 was one of the most ambitious world's fairs ever held in the United States, organized to celebrate both the completion of the Panama Canal and San Francisco's remarkable recovery following the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire. President William Howard Taft traveled to San Francisco on October 14, 1911, to ceremonially break ground for the exposition by turning the first spadeful of earth during a highly publicized event attended by dignitaries, civic leaders, and thousands of spectators.

Shreve & Co., among San Francisco's premier luxury jewelers and silversmiths, produced these commemorative sterling silver spades as elegant souvenirs of the groundbreaking ceremony. The exposition itself later became an international showcase of innovation, architecture, art, and engineering achievement, drawing millions of visitors from around the world in 1915. Relics directly connected to the fair's founding ceremonies are scarce and highly sought after, particularly those tied to presidential participation and the celebration of the Panama Canal era.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 4"
  • Medium: Relic

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000