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Tadeusz Kosciuszko

Tadeusz Kosciuszko Birth Centennial Medal
1946
by Stanislaw K. Ostrowsky
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Description

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Tadeusz Kosciuszko facing right. Around, TADEUSZ - KOSCIUSZKO; signed and dated at left shoulder, S+KO / N.Y. 26

The reverse bears Polish eagle over crossed halberds in wreath of grain and oak. Around, "HE WAS AS PURE A SON OF LIBERTY AS I HAVE EVER KNOWN AND OF THAT LIBERTY WHICH IS TO GO TO ALL, / AND NOT TO THE FEW OR / TO THE RICH ALONE / (TH JEFFERSON); in four sectors created by crossed halberds, POLAND / RACŁAWICE; AMERICA / SARATOGA; MACIEJOWICE / POLAND; AMERICA / WEST POINT; at bottom of wreath, 1746 1946 / BICENTENARY OF BIRTH; signed at grips of halberds, J.S. and S+KO

Kościuszko (Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuszko; 1746 –1817) was a Polish-Lithuanian military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States.

He fought in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's struggles against Russia and Prussia, and on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. As Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces, he led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising.

In 1776, Kościuszko moved to North America, where he took part in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel in the Continental Army. An accomplished military architect, he designed and oversaw the construction of state-of-the-art fortifications, including those at West Point, New York. In 1783, in recognition of his services, the Continental Congress promoted him to brigadier general.

The medal's obverse is based on an earlier 1926 portrait done by the artist and is dated accordingly. If I interpret the J.S. on the reverse correctly, Ostrowsky might have ccoperated with another sculptor on that part of the medal, maybe with J. R. Sinnock, who signed another medal with a J.S. monogram in 1946.

The circular medal measures 63.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1946-012

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

materialBronze
patinaBronze with tan patina
edge6MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE
diameter63.3mm
weight101.8g
mintageunknown
Last modified: Jan 28, 2018 19:07
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