This medal's obverse bears an image of Princeton's Nassau Hall with tree framed way leading to its door. Below, AVLA NASSOVICA / MDCCCXCVI; signed in right-most tree, TSC
The medal's reverse multi-line inscription: The legend reads: DE / ISVB NVMINE / VICET / QVOD ANTEA FVIT / COLLEGIVM / NEOCAESARIENSE / NVNC ANNIS+CL+IMPLETIS / VNIVERSITAS / PRINCETONIENSIS / SAECVLVM SPECTAT / NOVVM
As the Princeton College Bulletin from December 1896 reports:
"At a meeting of the Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee held in February, 1895, it was decided to issue a memorial medal. Accordingly the work was put in the hands of Mr. Thomas Shields Clarke, of the class of 1882, to make a series of studies of Nassau Hall, which it was decided was to form the subject for the face of the medal. It was resolved that a Latin inscription should be placed on the back of the medal. Mr. Clarke completed his clay model, of nearly eleven inches in diameter, and from it made a plaster cast, which was then sent to the United States Mint in Philadelphia and reduced on a pair of dies three inches in diameter, under the superintendence of Mr. Charles E. Barber, of the engraving department of the Mint. Two proof medals were then struck in bronze and proved entirely satisfactory. The medals were then struck off, one copy in pure gold, thirty copies in silver and five hundred copies in bronze. The Mint also arranged for making cases for the medals. Each case was nearly five inches square and was lined on the inside with black velvet with a touch of orange velvet edging. The Latin inscription on the back together with the words on the face is so arranged as to bring in the College of New Jersey, Nassau Hall, Princeton University, the date 1896 and the statement of the change of title. The lettering is done in capitals of the Augustan period."
The Latin inscription on the back roughly translates to:
"What was once the College of New Jersey, now fulfills one hundred and fifty years, and as Princeton University beholds a new age."
The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver and gold by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The reported mintage is 1 piece in gold, 30 in silver and 500 in bronze. The bronze pieces originally cost $5 and the silver pieces $15.
