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Jesse Ketchum US Mint medal Questions
DrSynergy
Posts: 12
Questions about the Jesse Ketchum medals
A few quick facts:
1. Jesse Ketchum was a philanthropist who gave away much of his wealth to the Buffalo, NY schools.
2. The Jesse Ketchum medals in 3 metals (gold, silver, bronze), and in 2 sizes (49 mm, 36mm) were awarded to Buffalo public school students starting in 1873; over 12,000 have been awarded.
3. William Barber and Charles Barber were the engravers at the US Mint.
4. In the book, “Medals of the United States Mint”, F.W. Julian refers to the Jesse Ketchum medals as: sc-14 (36 mm); and sc-15 (49 mm)
Questions:
1. Although the Jesse Ketchum medals are still being awarded in 2005, they are now ordered from a trophy company, not the US Mint. When was the last year that the US Mint minted Jesse Ketchum medals? My guess is 1949.
2. The finish of the silver and gold medals seems to have abruptly changed from 1925 to 1926. Starting in 1926, both the gold (1926-1933) and silver (1926-1949) medals of both sizes have a dull Matte finish. The silver medals from 1926 to 1949 do not acquire an overall black patina (unless the medals have been excessively rubbed. The engraved medal numbers for the gold medals (from 1926 to 1933) are very shiny, and the engraved medal numbers for the silver medals (1926-1949) are black (patina). What is the nature of this finish; was it common on other US Mint medals? [From 1873 to 1925, the gold medals were coin gold (90% gold), and the silver medals were coin silver (90% silver).]
3. Around 1934, the metal content of the gold medals changed again to, I think, gold plated silver. In what exact year did the metal content of the gold medals change? What was the new metal content of the gold medals? I think 1934, and gold-plated silver.
4. Were the numbers “in exergue” on the medals engraved at the US Mint, or would they have been engraved elsewhere?
5. Where are the two dies (36 mm, 49 mm) now?
6. There is a die crackline at 3:00 o’clock on the medal number side for many of the 49 mm medals (silver and gold). From my observations, there is no crackline for the 1873 medals, there is for medals from 1880 to 1929, and there seems to be no crackline for 49 mm medals from 1930 to 1949. In what year did the crackline appear (1874-1880?), and in what year did it disappear (1930?), presumably from repair of the die?
A few quick facts:
1. Jesse Ketchum was a philanthropist who gave away much of his wealth to the Buffalo, NY schools.
2. The Jesse Ketchum medals in 3 metals (gold, silver, bronze), and in 2 sizes (49 mm, 36mm) were awarded to Buffalo public school students starting in 1873; over 12,000 have been awarded.
3. William Barber and Charles Barber were the engravers at the US Mint.
4. In the book, “Medals of the United States Mint”, F.W. Julian refers to the Jesse Ketchum medals as: sc-14 (36 mm); and sc-15 (49 mm)
Questions:
1. Although the Jesse Ketchum medals are still being awarded in 2005, they are now ordered from a trophy company, not the US Mint. When was the last year that the US Mint minted Jesse Ketchum medals? My guess is 1949.
2. The finish of the silver and gold medals seems to have abruptly changed from 1925 to 1926. Starting in 1926, both the gold (1926-1933) and silver (1926-1949) medals of both sizes have a dull Matte finish. The silver medals from 1926 to 1949 do not acquire an overall black patina (unless the medals have been excessively rubbed. The engraved medal numbers for the gold medals (from 1926 to 1933) are very shiny, and the engraved medal numbers for the silver medals (1926-1949) are black (patina). What is the nature of this finish; was it common on other US Mint medals? [From 1873 to 1925, the gold medals were coin gold (90% gold), and the silver medals were coin silver (90% silver).]
3. Around 1934, the metal content of the gold medals changed again to, I think, gold plated silver. In what exact year did the metal content of the gold medals change? What was the new metal content of the gold medals? I think 1934, and gold-plated silver.
4. Were the numbers “in exergue” on the medals engraved at the US Mint, or would they have been engraved elsewhere?
5. Where are the two dies (36 mm, 49 mm) now?
6. There is a die crackline at 3:00 o’clock on the medal number side for many of the 49 mm medals (silver and gold). From my observations, there is no crackline for the 1873 medals, there is for medals from 1880 to 1929, and there seems to be no crackline for 49 mm medals from 1930 to 1949. In what year did the crackline appear (1874-1880?), and in what year did it disappear (1930?), presumably from repair of the die?
DrSynergy00001`
0
Comments
2) Are you sure that the gold medals were coin gold (90%) rather than fine gold (.999)? Julian says that most US Mint gold medals were struck in fine gold, not coin gold. Have you had specimens tested? FWIW, Stack's identified the gold specimen they sold as 24K.
2) The black numbers are not the result of a patina, but are intentionally colored.
3) It should be very easy to identify gold-plated silver by weight, if you have known gold and known silver medals to compare to...
4) I would be rather surprised if the numbers were engraved at the mint.
6) What is this funny number "two" that you mention? I would expect that there were several dies used to produce these medals. For the large version, there are at least three dies. Early numbers have small letters and an unsigned obverse (this is seen in the bronze specimen just sold by Heritage). Middle numbers have large letters with a small "B" below the bust (this is the die with the 3:00 crack). Later numbers have large letters with no signature. You probably have more specimens than most anyone else does at this point; you might be able to identify other differences.
6) When was the medal numbered 144 issued? That one is plated in the Stack's 1991 FPL. It appears to have the start of a crack, but much weaker than later versions.
The 49 mm number 144 medal was awarded in 1879 to Katie Bell in 10th grade at School #24. I have one 1873 strike that does not have the die crackline. And, I have a 49 mm #168 from 1880 that does have a hint of the crackline. So, I guess that the die crack goes at least as far back as 1979. I agree that the crack becomes more pronounced, year by year, to 1929.
The records of the Jesse Ketchum Memorial Fund are very specific about the gold and silver medals being made from coin gold (90%) and coin silver (90%). I have not had any medals tested for metal content (with the exception below). I imagine that this is one of the exceptions that bJulian refers to.
On the black engraved exergue numbers from both the 36 mm and 49 mm medals from 1926 to 1949, I was assuming that the coating prevented the tarnishing of the silver on the coated medals, but that the stamping of the number in exergue, exposed the metal under the stamp to the atmosphere, and destroyed that little bit of coating. That would explain the black numbers on the silver medals, and the shiny gold numbers on the matte gold medals. However, I am just speculating. If there was a tradition of somehow painting these numbers black on the silver medals, I would like to know more about the process.
I did weigh the gold-plated medals, and also took a rough measure of the thicknesses with a micrometer. The densities are consistent with silver; the thin outside plated layer is gold (I had one tested for just the outside layer). Interestingly, there is a huge variation in the thicknesses of the medals from year to year for both the silver and gold medals.
I am going to look back at why I assumed there were only two dies, one 36 mm and one 49 mm. You are quite right, since I have the actual specimens, and access to photomicrography, I should have no excuse for making an error on this point.
Thanks again for all of your input.
I need to perform a careful inspection of my complete collection before making any further conclusions. However, from the info that you have already provided to me, I should be able to make my book much more interesting regarding the appearing and disappearing B signature and diecrack, and the changes in fonts from short and thick to tall and thick to tall and thin. Several series by award date of highly magnified digital photos of key medals should tell an interesting story.
Thanks again.
I just recently found your posts while doing some research on Jesse Ketchum medals. My sisters and I found what I presume is a small bronze JK medal while clearing out our mother's house following her recent passing. Neither of us knew what it was at the time but I have since learned that they were (or still are) academic achievement awards from the Buffalo, New York school system. This makes sense to us since both our mother and father grew up in Buffalo and graduated from Lafayette High School there. The medal we have is number 1716 and comes in what I presume is it's original presentation box. The box is marked "T&E Dickinson Buffalo, N.Y."on the inside of the lid. Any info you could provide regarding this medal would be most gratefully appreciated.
DrSynergy or Mel023, do you have the ability to post images to this thread?
Numisma, if you do a search of my posts in U.S. Coins, there are images of one of mine in the archives.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
Questions:
4. Were the numbers “in exergue” on the medals engraved at the US Mint, or would they have been engraved elsewhere?
The mint records do not mention any numbering so it can safely be assumed that this was done at Buffalo.
Denga
I'm not at all certain it's bronze. I just presumed it was given how dark it is, especially after reading one of Dr. Synergy's posts that mentioned the silver medals being coated to prevent them from turning dark. However, it's possible I mis-read that particular post. Also, I would guess it's date to be something around 1943-44 if it was a middle school award or possibily 1945-46 if it was a high school award. It all depends on whether it was my mother's or father's. All these unknowns are the big reason I'd like to get in touch with Dr. S. It sounds like he could give my siblings and I the answers we're looking for.
Images of your medals would be appreciated here, if possible. The images below are of a pair of the silver strikes, SC-14(35 mm) and SC-15(49 mm).
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
Obviously, the 2nd and 3rd words are "God" and "Discipline". but how does "Dedit" translate?
In the context of the Jesse Ketchum medals, DEDIT DEUS DISCIPLINAM translates to "dedicated to God and education."
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
<< <i>I was paraphrasing Julian on the Latin translation. >>
coindeuce, it looks like we posted at about the same time and I did not see your post until after I hit the reply button. As with most Latin translations, opinions will vary, but should be similar.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
<< <i>Julian also translated the motto on the larger medal "Sapiens Erit Sapientior" to "The wise will be wiser".
Well, at least we were closer on that one. I translate that to "the wise become wiser."
The 1716 small (1 3/8" dia) silver medal is from 1914 and was awarded to Agnes A. Birtch, 45 B Street, for top scholar in 7th grade at public school number 24. Since this is before 1926, the medal should be coin silver (90% silver), should weigh about 1 troy oz (although there is wide variation among medals in weight), with no coating. It is likley that it has a black patina.
Some bronze small medals (1 3/8 ") were awarded in 1946-1947 for 7th grade; then only bronze small medals have been awarded from 1950 to the present. A few small and large (1 7/8") bronze medals were minted in 1873 and for a few years afterwards, according to Julian, but were never awarded to students. They have no number in exergue. These early bronze medals have a chocolate bronze appearance; whereas, the later bronze medals were shiny when awarded. It is likely that the bronze medals from 1950 onwards were simply cast by a trophy company. The Jesse Ketchum Memorial Fund's main minutes book (for which I was luckily given permission to photograph) is, unfortunately, close to silent on this issue.
I think that I am gaining more knowledge about the JK medal than I am providing. I was convinced to take Julian's word as gospel on the translations of the Latin phrases. Now I am thinking that I must seek out a Latin scholar and present him/her with the possiblities recorded in this thread. Many thanks for this info.
Cheers
I think that I am gaining more knowledge about the JK medal than I am providing. I was convinced to take Julian's word as gospel on the translations of the Latin phrases. Now I am thinking that I must seek out a Latin scholar and present him/her with the possiblities recorded in this thread. Many thanks for this info.
The translations were done by a Latin scholar, not the author of the book.
Denga
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
On behalf of myself and my family I would like to offer my most effusive thanks for the info on the Ketchum medal we have in our possession. The recipient you named would be my mother's mother (or my maternal grandmother). The medal is currently quite dark in color which is why I had thought initially that it was one of the small bronze awards. And add to that my ignorance of their specifications. Is there a way of restoring it to it's appearance at the time it was given to my Grandmother? And without ruining it in any way I might add. Thanks again for the info and in advance on the suggestions for cleaning it.
It is my strong opinion that old medals should be left alone with their patina intact. However, since the JK medal is silver, I suppose that ordinary silver cleaner should shine the silver medal to look like new. But, I don't recommend cleaning the medal. I wouldn't think of cleaning any of my own medals. I am working on a website and book on the JK medal. I hope to have these completed in a year or so. Over 12,000 medals have been awarded since 1873. Many of the awardees and/or their descendants are quite proud of the achievement that lead to the award.
Both of my parents are deceased as are both sets of grandparents. If there is anything that sticks in my mind in regards to my Mother and Father, it was their strong belief in a good education. Given that my mother's mother was a Jesse Ketchum awardee I can see how that belief runs in the family. I think my sisters and brother and I would have done my Grandmother proud. All of us are college graduates and 3 of us have master's degrees - 2 MBAs and 1 Master's of Health Management. Now that we know what this item is, it will take it's proper place as an heirloom of the family. As such, is this something that we should look into having insured on a homeowner's policy such as on a "valuables" rider? We may now know what it is but we still have no idea what it's worth, aside from it's sentimental value as something that came from our Grandmother.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
I’m trying to figure out where I can get a master list of Ketchum award winners. More specifically, I’m trying to determine what year my mother received hers. I think it was probably the early 40s but I’m not sure.