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GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Ever wanted to own a bit of treasure and history? Running from August 4 to 6, attendees at Gloucester's annual downtown Sidewalk Bazaar can purchase the city's winning coin from the 400th Anniversary medallion design competition.
The coin, "Out at Sea," came from Boston-based graphic designer Beth Swan, who told WBZ's Kendall Buhl that the medallion's imprint is based on Gloucester's Fisherman Memorial Statue which faces the city's harbor. Residents and tourists alike can buy a copy of Swan's medallion for themselves at the Brass Monkey, located on Main Street.
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Swan says the design took at least a couple sleepless nights to put together, something that draws on local inspiration.
"I had to hand carve the plaster to make the mold for the coin fabricator... that took a long time," Swan said.
Photo: Courtesy of Beth Swan
The 63rd Annual Sidewalk Bazaar, the city's largest marketplace event of the year with over 55 merchants, vendors, and non-profits in attendance. The event has music, food, deals, and entertainment for all ages, including a snake gallery display from the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team.
"It's a very big city, but it doesn't feel like it. We have a great main street that has small businesses that you can buy everything at and get to know everyone. I like to take my boys, and we just spend our day downtown so that's what the inspiration of the coin is," Swan said.
Officials say proceeds from medallion sales are going towards funding next years quadricentennial celebration.
WBZ's Kendall Buhl reports:
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