1858 New York Chamber of Commerce Atlantic Cable Completion Medal. Large Size. Copper. 69 mm. By Tiffany & Company. Plain Edge. Mint State, with a tiny obverse edge nick at 5:30.<strong>Obv</strong>: Detailed view of American and British sailing ships stern to stern on the open ocean with support vessels on either side, laying cable from huge rollers, inscriptions FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / AND CITIZENS OF NEW YORK above and COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN / BY HIM, / IN LAYING THE FIRST / TELEGRAPHIC CABLE / BETWEEN / EUROPE AND AMERICA, IN AUGUST, A.D. 1858. <strong>Rev:</strong> Allegorical figures flanking a huge globe over which a cable is strung, winged figure with laurel wreaths above, tiny U.S. and British Arms flanking New York Chamber of Commerce emblem at base, inscription TIFFANY & CO. N.Y. below. <p>This is one of the most spectacular medals from the second half of the nineteenth century-commemorating an event that electrified (no pun intended) the nation in 1858. Fully struck with pretty champagne-gold and powder blue undertones to warm medium brown patina. Satiny surfaces reveal only a few faint carbon flecks, minor handing mark in upper left obverse field, tiny edge nick at 5:30 on the reverse, such being quite normal for a large medal of this era that was enjoyed and appreciated by its recipient. <p>This piece features the same obverse design used to produce the gold examples presented to principal figures who participated in laying the cable. The reverse, however, is of a different design, although superficially similar. (See our New York Americana Sale of January 2011, lots 6466 and 6467, for examples of the other reverse design, including one of the gold strikings.) Few large-size bronze specimens are known. Rare, and an attractive example.<p>The completion of the first Atlantic Cable between Newfoundland and Ireland through the efforts of Cyrus West Field of Stockbridge, Massachusetts triggered an explosion of worldwide celebration. The first successful transmission of a message was on August 5. This was to Americans what the Moon landing would be in the next century. Newspapers and magazines were filled with articles and illustrations of celebrations. On August 16, Queen Victoria sent greetings to President James Buchanan. The 98-word message took slightly over 16 hours to transmit. The presidents 149-word acknowledgment occupied 10 hours of time. In all, some 400 messages were sent back and forth in August, mostly brief notes on technical matters, although one from America to Europe on August 20 told of two ships colliding at sea off Cape Race and another on the 25th relayed news of the sailing of the famous passenger steamer Persia and an unrelated situation, the death of Mr. Eddy, a skilled American telegrapher.<p><p>Despite excitement and hoopla for the communications accomplishment, all was not well, and after about three weeks of service and test messages, the cable ceased functioning properly, with the last clear transmission received, ironically, on the celebration day of September 1. Signals became incomplete or garbled. The telegraph companys public stock fell in value and, separately, Cyrus W. Field had additional reverses with his other business interests. For a time, city papers were filled with hopeful comments that cable service would be restored quickly and with defensive replies to criticism of the British press. Not long thereafter, many Americans took an opposite stance and felt that they had been hoodwinked by the whole affair. To some, Field became a pariah.<p><p>Hope sprang eternal, and Field sought to repair or replace the cable, but for a long time nothing was accomplished. Finally, years later in 1867 a new cable was installed and was successful.<p>
