The medal's obverse bears two allegorical female figures representing Europe and America, flanking a giant globe spanned by a cable; angel above, Eagle and Lion at the feet of their figures; three small panels below, bearing American Eagle and shield, native with trade goods and ocean in background, and British coat of arms. At bottom, TIFFANY & CO. N.Y.
The reverse bears two ships at sea with others in background. Above, FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / AND CITIZENS OF NEW YORK,; in exergue, COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN / BY HIM / IN LAYING THE FIRST / TELEGRAPHIC CABLE / BETWEEN / EUROPE AND AMERICA IN AUGUST, A.D. 1858
Cyrus West Field (1819-1892) was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and rose to world-wide fame for being one of the backers of the first transatlantic telegraph cable. The first trans-atlantic cable was laid from Telegraph Field, Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland and heralded a new era of communications. While the cable failed after a brief period of service, it proved the feasibility of the concept of instantaneous trans-atlantic communications. Its significance can be compared to the first trans-atlantic flight or the first Moon landing.
The medal bears some similarity to the gold medals that were awarded to Field and his partner, but the reverse is different. Struck by Tiffany and Company, New York, the circular medal measures 69mm in diameter. Only few large-size bronze peices are known to exist.
Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.
References: Marqusee 377