This is the largest medal I've come across at 90mm, 9mm thick with plain edge. It appears to be gilt copper. Any idea of what reference might list it or it's value?
awesome Both sides are so pretty. The reverse has left me almost breathless. Sorry I can not help you. Thank you for posting such a beautiful piece.
Just joined the forum and saw this thread, this is a medal awarded by the Commonwealth of Virginia to General Winfield Scott for his successes in Mexico, it is designed by C.C. Wright and the only gold version made resides in the Virginia Historical Society. Seemingly a few silvers were made and around 150 bronze. It is a Julian MI-27 from his book. If anyone is interested in more info. on this let me know and I can provide soem more.
Well, thanks a lot for the reference mexirish and welcome to the forum! Julian MI-27 led me to a 2008 Heritage auction and some additional images. I've seen no reference to a gilt version, so perhaps it is a restrike of some sort or was gilded afterwards. Heritage Sept 17-18, 2008 Tokens and Medals sale Lot 28164 1847 General Winfield Scott Medal. MS60 Uncertified. Julian MI-27. Bronze. 88 mm. Commissioned by the Commonwealth of Virginia, this large copper medal was designed, front and back, by Charles Cushing Wright and struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Julian notes that one gold, one silver, and 25 bronze medals were produced circa 1850. The obverse features a bust of Scott facing left, lettered on a tablet below his bust: THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA PRESENTS THIS MEDAL TO MAJOR GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, AS A MEMORIAL TO HER ADMIRATION FOR THE GREAT AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICES OF HER SON WHILST COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO, 1847. The reverse features a pillar surmounted by an eagle, with the dates 1812 and 1847, lettered below FROM VIRGINIA, and on a scroll above, FECIT QUOD COGITAVIT (He did what he knew), with military scenes left and right, the whole surrounded by an oak wreath.Sold for: $1,092.50. The Heritage example (lighened a bit to show some detail) is pictured below. I've combined a few addittional images I found to show how different the medal can look.
yarm, very interesting variation in colors, I am no expert so cannot comment but it sur elooks like the brighter ones are gilted, I have never seen reference to a gilt version of this medal though. Some more info. for you The medal was presented the following day, see more info. at this link http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.1795:31:1:7.lincoln All from the book Mansfield, Edward D.; Scott, Winfield. Life and Services of General Winfield Scott, Including the Siege of Vera Cruz, the Battle of Cerro Gordo, and the Battles in the Valley of Mexico, to the Conclusion of Peace, and His Return to the United States . New York: A.S. Barnes and Co., 1852 There is also reference to the medal as item 220 in "An arrangement of medals and tokens struck in honor of the presidents of the United States, and of the presidential candidates, from the administration of John Adams to that of Abraham Lincoln, inclusive" by Alfred H. Satterlee originally printed in 1862 (reprinted in 2009) More later
More about the gold medal from the Mint Report of 1855 presente to Congress by the President (see "Medals Struck during the War with Mexico) http://www.chicagocoinclub.org/lib/us/cis/34-1/hed70.html I have been trying to determine mintage, the Heritage auction above references Julian saying 25 bronze but the link below references 154 (also says "bronzed" as opposed to bronze) http://www.civilwartokens.com/us_mint_medals.htm If anyone knows where I can find out the mintage please let me know. Here is a link to a Stacks sales for $220 back in 2005 (wish I knew about this medal back then) http://www.stacksarchive.com/viewlot.php?auction=ST0105&lot=2370&auclink=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFja3NhcmNoaXZlLmNvbS92aWV3Y2F0LnBocD9hdWN0aW9uPVNUMDEwNSZoZWFkaW5nPTMxNTgmaGVhZGluZ2xldmVsPTMjbG90MjM3MA%3D%3D&PHPSESSID=05fbcd18934376612c90ed058eeb0f91
