1904 State Department Lifesaving Medal. Gold. 35.6 mm. 41.4 grams. By George T. Morgan. Julian LS-3. Extremely Fine.The reverse includes the hand-engraved inscription within a laurel wreath: TO / T. S. ROBERTSON / SEAMAN OF THE / BRITISH STEAMER HORSA / IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC / SERVICES IN EFFECTING THE / RESCUE OF THE CAPTAIN AND / SIX SAILORS OF THE / AMERICAN BARKENTINE / ELMIRANDA / WRECKED AT SEA / NOVEMBER 14 / 1904. This style medal was used, starting in 1880, to reward foreign sailors for saving American lives at sea. This example includes the original pin-back E PLURIBUS UNUM hanger and claw-type clasp. This medal has the expected handling marks and hair lines of a medal long-worn and affectionately polished by the recipient. Remarkably, this was not the only national life saving award that Robertson received, for also included in this lot is a 6 1/2 inch tall double handled sterling silver trophy cup engraved: PRESENTED BY / THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT / TO / MR. THOMAS STEPHENSON ROBERTSON, / FIRST OFFICER OF THE S.S. "BRITISH EMPRESS" OF LONDON, / IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS HUMANITY TO THE SHIPWRECKED CREW / OF THE / SCHOONER "MILDRED" OF SIDNEY, N.S., / ON THE 30TH NOVEMBER, 1918. The cup has a four- figure hallmark: D & J / W for D & J Wellby, Ltd., the Sterling Lion, lion face for London, and the date mark strongC/strong which corresponds to 1918. It weighs 422 grams. A unique pair! (Total: 2 items).p
