Daniel Morgan medal

Dentuck

"Friday, 9 March 1781

The United States in Congress assembled, considering it as a tribute

due to distinguished merit to give a public approbation of the conduct of Brigadier

General Morgan, and of the officers and men under his command, on the 17th day of

January last; when with eighty cavalry, and two hundred and thirty-seven infantry of

the troops of the United States, and five hundred and fifty-three militia from the

States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, he obtained a

complete and important victory over a select and well appointed detachment of more

than eleven hundred British troops, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton;

do therefore resolve,

That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be given to Brigadier

General Morgan, and the officers and men under his command, for their fortitude and

good conduct, displayed in the action at the Cowpens, in the State of South

Carolina, on the 17th of January last:

That a medal of gold be presented to Brigadier General Morgan, and a medal of silver

to Lieutenant Colonel W. Washington, of the cavalry, and one of silver to Lieutenant

Colonel Howard, of the infantry of the United States; severally with emblems and

mottos descriptive of the conduct of those officers respectively on that memorable

day:[...]

Ordered, That the commanding officer in the southern department,

communicate these resolutions in general orders."

... Journals of the Continental Congress, v. 19, p. 246-247


= = = = =

This dramatic medal recreates the actual Gold Medal for Valor bestowed by the U.S.
Congress on General Daniel Morgan in 1781. Struck 30-plus years ago by the U.S.
Mint, Department of the Treasury, the medal was packaged with a little documentation
booklet in a display case.

The obverse features a high-relief standing portrait of General Morgan facing verso
in military uniform with sword unsheathed, being crowned with laurels by a Native
American in ceremonial headdress representing America, with inscription (in Latin):

"The American Congress to General Daniel Morgan."

A trophy of arms and flags ornament the background of this triumphant scene.

The reverse shows General Morgan leading his troops with colors flying and putting
the British Army to flight; to the fore, an Indian warrior battles a dismounted
cavalry soldier. The Latin inscription reads, "VICTORY, the Vindicator of Liberty,"
and "The enemy put to flight, taken, or slain, at the Cowpens, January 17, 1781."

-- Dentuck

ricko

Very nice medal.... more and more, with the dearth of art on modern coinage, I am considering medals as an area of focus. Cheers, RickO

57loaded

i really like it, too, thanks for the pics

291fifth

I believe that medal was issued by the US Mint during the Bi-centennial celebration years. It was one of a set.

charley

Interesting to note that the original Medal was requested by Jefferson and Col. Humphreys. Commissioners of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres composed it. I surmise at that time in History we didn't have the means to produce such Medals. The George Washington Medal, the first one voted by Congress, was composed by these same Commissioners. Respectfully, John Curlis

mcheath

Cool medal, Daniel Morgan lived a few miles from my home in Virginia but I have never taken the time to learn much about him. I think I will do a little research.

AnkurJ

Gorgeous medal! Are modern reproductions available?
AJ

jamakin

In 1973 the US Mint came out with a series of pewter reproductions of US medals. They pop up on ebay quite often and can be bought for small change.
I made a display of them because they are so cool looking


They were cheap enought to buy two sets so I could show obverse and reverse in the same display.
the only expensive one is the Libertas reproduction that I had to get from the Paris mint.

OPA

I believe the the Mint sold several million of the pewter sets. I still have mine and they are not difficult to find on eBay.

Longacre

I highly reccomend the John Adams book on Comitia Americana medals. It is spectacular.

dealmakr

I recently visited the Cowpens National Battlefield a few weeks back and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the time. The vistor center has a few nice displays and a nice movie about the battle. Also presented was a display showing the battles that took place in the south during the revolution especially in the South Carolina area. More info can be found here;

http://www.nps.gov/cowp

regards,

dealmakr