Museum Collections
Luce Center
Treasury Department - First Class Life Saving Medal
Object Number:
INV.3919
Date:
1881
Medium:
Gold
Dimensions:
diameter: 2 in. ( 5.1 cm )
Marks:
inscription: obverse, at lower right: "PAQUET"
inscription: reverse, below nautical emblems: "PAQUET"
Description:
Gold struck medal with a scene of three men in a lifeboat rescuing a sailor with legend: "LIFE SAVING MEDAL OF THE FIRST CLASS/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Reverse shows allegorical figure of Fame preparing to write on one side of monument; eagle atop of monument and nautical attributes to right of monument; all within beaded border; legend: "IN TESTIMONY OF HEROIC DEEDS IN SAVING LIFE FROM THE PERILS OF THE SEA"; inscription below exergual line: "ACT OF CONGRESS/JUNE 20th 1874." Monument is engraved: "to/JOHN H. RAPP/for/HEROIC SERVICES/IN SAVING/SEVERAL/PERSONS/FROM DROWNING/1880-1881."
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.