1861 Major Robert Anderson Defense of Fort Sumter Medal. White Metal. 70 mm. By George Hampden Lovett, Published by Augustus B. Sage. Specimen-55 (PCGS). strongObv:/strong Detailed view of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, name SUMTER. above, dates APRIL 12 & 13 / 1861 below in exergue. strongRev:/strong Thick wreath with shield at bottom encloses inscription PRUDENS, FIDELIS ET AUDAX. INVICTAE, FIDELITATIS PRAEMIUM. / TO / MAJ. ROBERT ANDERSON, / U.S.A. / FROM THE CITIZENS OF / NEW YORK CITY, / AS A / SLIGHT TRIBUTE / TO HIS / PATRIOTISM. Signed G.H. LOVETT N. YORK / AUG. B. SAGE PUB. within wreath at bottom. A handsome and fully original piece, both sides exhibit warm antique gold and steel gray patina that is bolder and a bit more mottled on the reverse. Softly struck at the top of the shield, lower left and right portions of the wreath on the reverse, as well as in the opposing areas on the obverse (the waves below the fort). Other features are sharp, and there are ample remnants of a prooflike finish.The dies for this type were engraved by George Hampden Lovett, and the medals published by Augustus B. Sage. After his defense of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, the bombardment of which on April 12 and 13, 1861, marked the beginning of the Civil War, Major Anderson was carried to New York City by the steamer emBaltic/em. He arrived there on the morning of April 18, widely celebrated by the citys residents. The many honors bestowed upon Major Anderson in the following days provided Augustus B. Sage with another opportunity to publish a metal struck from dies prepared by George Hampden Lovett. As with the Lovett-Sage Field medal, a single gold example of the Major Anderson-Fort Sumter medal was to be presented to its honoree. Major Andersons medal was to be paid for by subscriptions from private citizens, which were limited to 200 at $5/subscription, each contributor to receive a bronze example of the medal. Eighty-two subscriptions were immediately forthcoming, pointing to a mintage of at least that many examples in bronze. Other specimens were struck in silver, brass and white metal, all of which are rare. Only two are known in silver: the ANS specimen and a gorgeous example ex Bushnell:1660 and Zabriskie (1999):659, purchased at that sale on a $20,000 bid. A silver electrotype appeared in our (Stacks) Ford VII Sale of January 2005, lot 524. The unique brass specimen is also in the collection of the ANS, as is a white metal impression. Bowers (1998) describes white metal examples as "very rare" and further states, "Some or possibly all may have been issued with a lightly silvered surface which over a period of time formed an amalgam with the white metal underneath, creating an irregular, matte-like surface." This is the only specimen in this fabric that we can recall handling in recent years. From the Q. David Bowers Collection.
