Cyrus W. Field Congressional Medal
William Barber
Decorative Arts and Design
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
1867 designed; 1868 struck
DIMENSIONS
4 1/16 x 4 1/16 x 1/2 in. (10.3 x 10.3 x 1.3 cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
Struck on obverse, at left near American hemisphere: "J.G. BRUFF D." and at right near European hemisphere: "BARBER F."
ACCESSION NUMBER
86.248.1
CREDIT LINE
Gift of M. Christman Zulli
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Circular medal. Obverse: profile bust of bearded man (Cyrus Field) being crowned with laurel wreath by hand from sky. Below is the sea with two sailing ships and hemispheres representing American and Europe. Text at top, "HONOR AND FAME ARE THE REWARD"; at bottom, "INDOMITABLE PERSEVERANCE / AND ENDURING FAITH ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS." Reverse: Border of chain link and guilloche surrounds the words (interspersed with American shield; star made up of stars; globe surrounded by laurel and oak and topped with crossed scepters and lightning bolts), "BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES- / MARCH 2, / 1867 / TO / CYRUS FIELDS / OF / NEW YORK, / FOR HIS FORESIGHT, FAITH AND PERSISTENCY, / IN ESTABLISHING / TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS, / BY MEANS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH, / CONNECTING THE OLD WITH NEW WORLD."
CONDITION: Normal wear, good.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
William Barber (American, born England, 1807–1879). Cyrus W. Field Congressional Medal, 1867 designed; 1868 struck. Bronze, 4 1/16 x 4 1/16 x 1/2 in. (10.3 x 10.3 x 1.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of M. Christman Zulli, 86.248.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.248.1_side2_cropped_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
profile, ruler in original, 86.248.1_side2_cropped_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
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