88 / 169
H
86
Miscellaneous Tokens and Medals
over an open book encircled by laurel. Reverse: ADJUDGED/
BY THE/ SCHOOL COMMITTEE/ AS A / REWARD OF
MERIT/ TO/ (engraved) JOHN J. MAY.
This is the first struck Boston school medal and was first used
in the year 1800. Only about half of these medals were issued
inscribed with the year of its award. (G)
375.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WINGED GENIUS NATUS
BOSTON MEDAL RESTRIKE, 1784.
Betts-619. 46
mm. Bronze with cornucopia BRONZE edge-mark. Choice
Uncirculated; a few minor spots. Early 20
th
century restrike of
the Franklin Winged Genius medal. (G)
376.
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL BOYLSTON AWARD
MEDAL, (1821)
Storer (MN) 468; Storer (Mass) 1875;
Freeman 694. 46mm. Bronze. William Wyon, Sc. XF/AU with
some minor rx. edge marks. Obverse profile bust to the left, W.
N. BOYLSTON SCHOLAE MEDICINAE FUNDATOR. Blank
reverse.
Awarded for the best dissertation in the field of medical science
on a proposed subject. Storer notes: “Founded in 1821, but
discontinued after a few years, as it was felt that the inscription
might cause the impression that Boylston was the founder of the
school rather than of the medal.” (F)
Lot 374
Lot 375
377.
NEW YORK MECHANICS INSTITUTE AWARD
MEDAL, 1838,
Nuezil 58. 51mm. Silver. 50.2 grams. Moritz
Furst, Sc. F/VF, but with scattered digs and abrasions consistent
with this circulated grade. A robed female figure is shown
seated at right holding a wreath in her extended right hand.
Crowded behind here are a plow, a caduceus, a sheaf of wheat
and a spinning wheel. Before her are several youths engaged in
various learning activities. Behind there is a mountain on top
of which is a tiny figure of Pegasus and a small male figure
to either side of a temple. Above, at center, is a winged figure
of Fame blowing a trumpet., Inscribed at top is: MECHANICS
INSTITUTE. In the exergue: NEW-YORK. Below in tiny
letters: FURST.F. The reverse is inscribed: KNOWLEDGE
IS POWER above, a wreath composed of oak and palm tied
together with ribbons and surrounding an area hand engraved
with an award inscription: AWARDED TO/ P.L. NEAL/ FORA
MODEL OF/ SELF INKING CARD/ PRINTING PRESS/ SEP.
1838.
Neuzil notes that this obverse comes paired with another
reverse similar reverse but without the “Knowledge is Power”
inscription. He further states that, “This uncommon silver medal
is encountered with various engraved award inscriptions. The
busy obverse design is crowned with symbolism. It probably
postdates the American Institute obverse, having adopted the
motif of the latter and added yet more symbolic elements.” (G)
378.
VOYAGE OF THE JUNK “KEYING”, 1848.
BHM 2316;
MH 599. 44.8mm. WM. (Allen & Moore.) PL Unc. with minor
hairlines and a small rx. spot. Obv: Starboard view of the junk
with only the main mast sail set. In exergue: THE CHINESE
JUNK/ “KEYING”. Rx: 18 line inscription giving details of trip
from China and data about the boat.
According to BHM, “The junk, having been purchased in Hong
Kong, left there to begin the journey to England on 6 December
1846. She rounded the Cape of Good Hope on 21st March the
following year and arrived in New York on 10 July. Here, some
members of the crew jumped ship and settled in that city,
thus founding what was to become New York’s Chinatown. The
journey to England took her first to Boston and landfall was
finally made in England on 27 March 1848 after a journey of
437 days of sailing.” (F)
379.
WASHINGTON IRVING MEMORIAL MEDAL, 1859.
69mm. Bronze. A.J. Henning, Sc. Choice Unc. Obverse with
undraped bust of Washington Irving to the left in a plain
field. The reverse contains a laurel and oak wreath around
the inscription: WASHINGTON IRVING/ BORN/ APRIL 3,
Lot 376
Lot 377 (reduced)