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H
80
U.S. Mint Medals
SOCIETY/ OF PHILADELPHIA. On the reverse, SECOND
PREMIUMAWARDED is above an open wreath surrounding an
inscription of award which reads: TO/ GEORGE BUCKMAN/
FOR BEST/ TWO HORSE/ CULTIVATOR/ (in tiny letters)
SEPT. 1855.
Julian catalogs two medals for the “Agricultural Society of
Philadelphia” (AM 71 & 72) and one for the “Philadelphia
Society for the Promotion of Agriculture.” (AM-73). It appears
that the two organizations are one and the same; either the names
being interchangeable or there being a more formal change of
name at some unknown date, ca. 1860.
Medals from the AM-73 dies were the first struck; the earliest
known dated example being 1823. The medal offered here is the
only awarded examples of either AM 71 or 72 of which we are
aware. Julian states that AM 71 medals were struck in both 1855
and 1861.
The Philadelphia Society, established in 1785, was among the
nation’s earliest groups dedicated to improving agricultural
production through the application of scientific methods. It
counted among its initial membership such luminaries as
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. It
was instrumental in forming the Pennsylvania State Agricultural
Society in 1851 as a vehicle for establishing an educational
institution devoted to the study of agricultural science. This bore
fruit when the first class matriculated at Penn State University in
1859.
A rare medal – we can find only four other modern auction
records – all for unawarded examples. Even the extensive
Dreyfuss collection did not have an example. (H-I)
SCHOOLMEDALS
350.
PITTSBURGH FEMALE COLLEGE AWARD MEDAL.
SC-42. 41.5m. Copper, bronzed. W.H. Key, Sc. Uncirculated.
Obverse with a bust to the left surrounded by the legend:
THOMAS McKEE PRIZE FOR SUPERIOR EXCELLENCE
IN MUSIC. On the reverse, PITTSBURGH FEMALE
COLLEGE and LAURUS DIGNISSIMO DETUR encompass
a wreath closed at bottom by a lyre.
According to Mint records, 13 bronze medals were struck in
1867. This is only the third example of this medal we have
offered in bronze. (F)
MARKSMANSHIP MEDALS
351.
PENNSYLVANIA GRAY RESERVES MARKSMANSHIP
MEDAL.
MK-2; Baker 359. 59.7mm. Copper. Anthony Paquet,
Sc. NGC MS 63 Brown. The Washington portrait by Paquet is
the same as used on the large size Mint Cabinet medal (MT-
23) originally struck 10 years previously in 1859. Inscribed at
the top of the reverse is: 1ST REGT. INFANTRY 1ST DIV.
P.M. Within a ribbon below is the name of the unit, GRAY
RESERVES. At enter are two crossed U.S. flags and below,
CAPE MAY JULY 1869/ PRESENTED TO/ a scroll with
spaces for engraving the name of the recipient.
A total of one gold and twenty three bronze medals were
struck for this unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
According to Julian, bronze medals were distributed as awards
for marksmanship. As testimony to the rarity of the medal,
neither Julian nor Rulau/Fuld were able to find a specimen
to photograph for their respective books. Carlson was able to
find only two auction records among the hundreds of auctions
he surveyed. The last time we offered an example of this rare
medal was 15 years ago in our 2001 Marcus Collection Sale
where a choice AU brought 1610.00. ($2000+)
352.
SECOND CLASS PRIZE ARMY MARKSMANSHIP.
MK
4/16. 44mm. Copper, bronzed. Unsigned. About Uncirculated.
Obverse: SECOND CLASS PRIZE ARMY MARKSMANSHIP
around a bust of MARS (the Roman God of War) facing left
wearing a helmet decorated with a quadriga. Reverse with a
Lot 351
Lot 352