Collection Highlights
Dr. John Cheesman and Family with Guests: Silhouette
1840
Z.2567
Black prepared paper cut-outs, laid on beige paper with graphite, brown ink and wash, and white gouache, laid on canvas
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Cyrus Field Medallion
Title
Cyrus Field Medallion
Date
ca. 1868
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
diameter: 4 in. ( 10.2 cm )
Description
Struck bronze medallion, obverse showing hand issuing from clouds about to place laurel wreath on the head of Cyrus Field (facing left) itself on base of clouds. Below is a scene of two ships sailing from two partial globes labelled "AMERICA" and "EUROPE." The two continents are further connected by chain at bottom; legend above field reads : "HONOR AND FAME ARE THE REWARD"; exergual legend reads: "INDOMINATABLE PERSEVERANCE/AND ENDURING FAITH ACHIEVES THE SUCCESS."; field is surrounded by border in the form of cable. Reverse has ornate border, American shield, thirty-one stars in the form of a star, branches, and a globe labelled "EUROPE" and "AMERICA" within and around the legend: "BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES/MARCH 2,/1867/CYRUS W. FIELD (in Gothic lettering)/OF/NEW YORK/FOR HIS FORESIGHT, FAITH, AND PERSISTENCY/IN ESTABLISHING/TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION,/BY MEANS OF THE/ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH,/CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW WORLD."
Object Number
1226
Marks
inscribed: bottom left below field: "J. G. BRUFF D."
inscribed: below field, at right: "BARBER F."
Gallery Label
This medallion was issued by the U. S. Mint after the Congressional resolution of March 2, 1867 to commemorate Field's establishment of the telegraphic cable that linked Great Britain and the United States.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
