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Pacific Railroad Commemorative Medal

William Barber

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
MEDIUM Bronze
  • Place Manufactured: New York, United States
  • DATES 1869
    DIMENSIONS Medal, diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) Frame: 2 7/8 x 3 3/8 x 5/16 in. (7.3 x 8.6 x 0.8 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS On reverse, below landscape: "W.BARBER F."
    ACCESSION NUMBER 86.248.8a-b
    CREDIT LINE Gift of M. Christmann Zulli
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Circular medal (a) in presentation frame (b). (a) Obverse: Profile bust of bearded man (Ulysses S. Grant) facing right, surrounded by text: "PRESIDENCY OF U.S. GRANT" and text at bottom: "THE OCEANS UNITED / BY RAILWAY / MAY 10,1869." Reverse: Railway train in landscape; in scroll in sky: "EVERY MOUNTAIN SHALL BE MADE LOW."; below landscape: "MEDAL SERIES OF THE / U.S. MINT. / J. Pollock Director." (b) Cloth-covered wooden frame with depressed area to insert medallion. Purple, blue and brown velvet. CONDITION: (a) Normal wear, good. (b) Velvet much worn.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
    CAPTION William Barber (American, born England, 1807-1879). Pacific Railroad Commemorative Medal, 1869. Bronze, Medal, diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of M. Christmann Zulli, 86.248.8a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.248.8a_side1_cropped_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE component, ruler in original, 86.248.8a_side1_cropped_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    William Barber (American, born England, 1807-1879). <em>Pacific Railroad Commemorative Medal</em>, 1869. Bronze, Medal, diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of M. Christmann Zulli, 86.248.8a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.248.8a_side1_cropped_bw.jpg)