1846 The Mexican War / Loss of the Somers. Silver. 58 mm. By Charles Cushing Wright. Julian NA-24. Unc Details--Rim Damage (NGC).；An attractively original piece with iridescent olive and reddish-gold highlights to dominant steel gray patina. Sharply defined and free of appreciable rub, a few moderate-size abrasions in the upper and lower reverse fields are noted. For the obverse we note shallow rim bruises at 1 and 7 oclock that explain the NGC qualifier, although these features are not all that distracting when the medal is observed in the holder. Authorized by Congress on March 3, 1847, production of the Loss of the Somers medal did not commence until the fall of 1850. The original reverse die prepared by Wright contained an engraving error in the legend: PRO VITA AMERICANA PRESERVANDA (For Having Saved An American Life) instead of PRO VITIS AMERICANORUM CONSERVATIS (For Having Saved American Lives). When the error was discovered at the Navy Department, Wright was forced to prepare a completely new reverse die, which promptly cracked when being hardened at the Mint. Wright presumably prepared yet a third reverse die, from which the ordered 10 gold and 100 silver impressions were produced. These pieces were first offered for sale in 1861. This silver piece, from the properly prepared reverse die, presents exceptionally well despite the qualifier and would fit nicely into a specialized cabinet.；
