World's Columbian Exposition Commemorative Presentation Medal 1892-94, cast by 1896 Augustus Saint-Gaudens American Saint-Gaudens, who served as an advisor for the Chicago Worlds Columbian Exposition sculptural program, accepted the commission for the official award medal. He had completed his design for the medal by the time of the fairs closing in November 1893. His design for the obverse met ready acceptance. It shows Columbus making landfall in the Americas. At the lower right are three male figures, one bearing an unfurling banner, and above them are the symbolic Pillars of Hercules with the three Spanish caravels and the inscription plvs vltra. His concept for the reverse, however—a nude male youth representing the Spirit of America—was deemed improper by United States Senate Quadro-Centennial Committee. Two variant designs with the figures genitals covered and a third with a wreath-encircled eagle and inscription were also rejected. In the end, Saint-Gaudenss obverse was mul