Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

United States of America, John Slater, Congressional Medal of Thanks, 1883, a copper striking of the large gold medal by Tiffany & Co, bewhiskered bust left, rev. slave, freed of his shackles, is greeted by a figure representing Religion and Plenty, 77mm. Sometime cleaned, otherwise extremely fine £200-300

Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33, 6-7 May, 2003 (lot 1532); E. Roehrs Collection.

John Fox Slater (1815-84), a philanthropist from Connecticut whose money came from the textile industry, was presented with the gold medal, which had been approved by Congress on 5 February 1883, in recognition of his contribution of one million dollars for the purpose of ‘uplifting the lately emancipated population of the Southern states and their prosperity, by conferring on them the blessings of Christian education’