8360.. [commemorative life-saving medal] Bronze U. S. Mint medal for the saving of life at the wreck of the steamship San Francisco in December 1853.
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8360.. [commemorative life-saving medal] Bronze U. S. Mint medal for the saving of life at the wreck of the steamship San Francisco in December 1853.
8360.. [commemorative life-saving medal] Bronze U. S. Mint medal for the saving of life at the wreck of the steamship San Francisco in December 1853. Fine large bronze medal bears 39 stars and “JULY 26, 1866” surrounding a vignette of a man and woman on a raft watching help coming from a distance. “Paquet F.” on the raft edge. The reverse shows America, with an eagle at her side and the capitol building in the background, placing a wreath on the head of a sailor, the whole surrounded by “BY JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS TO THE RESCUERS OF THE PASSENGERS OFFICERS AND MEN OF STEAMSHIP SAN FRANCISCO WRECKED DEC. 1853 TESTIMONIAL OF NATIONAL GRATITUDE FOR HIS GALLANT CONDUCT” with a space for the engraving of a name. “Paquet F.” at lower right. Size 82mm (3 3/16″). Gold medals were first struck in 1868 and the bronze were put on public sale in February of 1875, to commemorate the rescues. On board the San Francisco when she went down were 8 companies of 3rd US Artillerymen, commanded by John M. Washington, a cousin to George Washington. Three hundred lives were lost. (VG). $440 net.