The medal's obverse bears conjoined portraits of John Pintard and Egbert Benson, facing quarter left. Around left, JOHN PINTARD / FOUNDER; around right, EGBERT BENSON / FIRST PRESIDENT; signed around lower right, V.D.Brenner
The medal's reverse bears old and new buildings of the New York Historical Society with society's medallion supported by palm leaves at bottom, Around, · THE · NEW · YORK · HISTORICAL · SOCIETY · 1804 - 1904; under the horizontal separator between buildings, IT IS DELIGHTFUL / TO RECALL THE PAST
John Pintard (1759-1844) was an American merchant and philanthropist. He was orphaned at the tender age of 18 months and grew up with his uncle, Lewis Pintard. He made his fortune in the China and East India Trade and lost it in Alexander Hamilton's scheme to fund the national debt. While he never recovered his former wealth, he regained comfortable financial status and founded or was active in many of New York's respected cultural institutions, among them the New York Historical Society, the American Antiquarian Society, the American Bible Society, and the Tammany Society. He was also active in the movement that lobbied for the construction and completion of the Erie Canal. He was what we would call "a pillar of scoiety" and died highly respected in 1844.
Egbert Benson (1746-1833) was a lawyer, jurist and politician from Upper Red Hook, New York, and a Founding Father of the United States who represented New York in the Continental Congress, Annapolis Convention, and the United States House of Representatives. He served as a member of the New York State constitutional convention in 1788 which ratified the United States Constitution. He also served as the first Attorney General of the State of New York, Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and as a judge and Chief Judge on the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. He is one of the Dutch Americans alongside John Jay to lead the American Revolution.
The circular medal measures 63.7mm and was struck in gold-patinated bronze. No mintage is reported.