Two medals for the Fourth of July
BillJones
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A couple of months ago, I acquired an example of the 1801 Thomas Jefferson Inaugural medal in silver. It’s not perfect, but after kicking myself for passing one a decade ago, it’s the best I’m going to do. This piece celebrated the inauguration of Jefferson as the third president of The United States and the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence which Jefferson wrote.
The dies for this piece were by John Reich. Reich came to the United States as an indentured servant. Some mint officials paid off his indenture and hired him to make this medal in celebration of Jefferson’s win in the presidential election.
I am amazed by the quality of Reich’s work. You must remember than the U.S. Mint was still a fairly primitive operation, but Reich, and those who worked with him, were able to make this piece is fairly high relief.
Reich was a talented artist, who deserved a spot on the mint’s staff. It took him eight years to get there, and once there, he never got a raise or a promotion.
This second piece is an American classic, the Libertas Americana Medal. This piece was conceived, funded and distributed by Benjamin Franklin. The master, Augustin Depre, made that dies. This piece commemorated the American and French victory over the British in the American Revolution. It was the inspiration for the Liberty Cap cents and half cents.
I think that Reich’s work compares favorably with Depre’s. What do you think?
Comments
Depre would have had access to all of the most modern medal making equipment of 1801. His talent, combined with modern medal making equipment resulted in a beautiful medal. His depiction of Liberty is exceptional.
Considering that Reich was working in the US of 1801 his work is also very impressive. His work on the reverse of the medal is very well executed. The portrait of Jefferson is rather stiff looking. If he had also been working on a Liberty obverse I'm sure it would have been much more dynamic.
I think Reich only had the Houdon statue to work with. It seemed like Jefferson was only aware that there was a medal in the works for him. He did not pose for it.
Wonderful pieces that display excellent craftsmanship and artistry, thanks for sharing.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Beautiful, rare piece.
Interesting to note that Presidents Jefferson, Adams, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July.
Jefferson and Madison in 1826, and Monroe in 1831.
James Madison fell a week short on June 28, 1836.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
In all likelihood, Reich had to strike the Jefferson medal on the silver dollar coin press. That press was installed in May of 1795. Prior to that, the mint did not have a press that was large enough to strike silver dollars. That is reflected in the strike weakness observed on most all 1794 silver dollars.
The Jefferson medal is about 75% heavier than a Bust Dollar. It is remarkable that Reich was able to get the high relief on the medal so sharp. It would have require multiple strikes to do it.
Here the Jefferson medal beside a Bust Dollar.
I wonder how many strikes were required for the Jefferson medal. I also wonder how they managed to keep the medal properly aligned while it was being struck multiple times.
Great post. The Jefferson medal is a wonderful design, particularly given the tools available to Reich.
Any idea how many Jefferson medals were made and any sense of how many survive?
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
in a search of the Internet and the Newman portal, I have found 14. I have found five in white metal, but John Kraljivich estimates that there are more. Some of them, in horrible condition, have been found with metal detectors.