Commems Collection Medals: 1927 Battle Of Bennington, Vermont Independence Sesquicentennial

Accompanying the 1927 Battle of Bennington-Vermont Independence Sesquicentennial half dollar was a commemorative bronze medal commissioned by the same sponsor and created by the same artist - the Vermont Sesqui-Centennial Commission and Charles Keck, respectively. (Fr more about the commemorative half dollar, see the link below.)

The designs of the commemorative medal can be traced to Keck's initial design proposals for the commemorative coin.

For the coin's obverse, Keck created a right-facing portrait of Ira Allen - often referred to as the "Founder of Vermont." The design, with minor modifications, was eventually approved by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and was used on the half-dollar.

The original model for the coin's reverse depicted Fay's Green Mountain Inn; it was often referred to as Fay's Tavern. The name of the establishment was later changed to the Catamount Tavern. The name change came after a stuffed catamount was mounted on a 25-foot tall signpost at the front of the building. The fierce animal was meant to be a warning to those from the New York colony who were intent on incorporating Vermont under their governance - such attempts would be met with fierce opposition. The tavern was an important meeting place in early Vermont, especially for the Green Mountain Boys. Ethan Allen planned the defense of Vermont against the New Yorkers at the tavern, and John Stark made plans regarding the Battle of Bennington within its walls.

The Vermont Commission was pleased with the original models that Keck had prepared, but they were not approved by the CFA. The CFA's primary objections were targeted at Keck's model for the coin's reverse.

Unfortunately for Keck and the Vermont Commission, the CFA was not happy with the use of the tavern building for the reverse - it was generally opposed to architectural renderings on coins. The CFA suggested the use of a catamount as the primary reverse design element. This did not sit well with Vermont's Commission, but they relented and Mr. Keck created three new reverse designs, including a catamount design selected for use on the reverse of the half dollar.

The original "Fay's Tavern" design was not abandoned, however, as Keck would bring it back for the reverse of the Commission's commemorative medal. The wreath encircling the tavern features the names of key historical figures from Vermont's colonial past. The medal's obverse features a "Green Mountain Boy" holding a flintlock rifle in the foreground with the "Bennington Flag" in the background; the flag traces its roots to the Battle of Bennington.

As with the half-dollar, the commemorative medal was clearly a dual commemorative for Vermont's Sesquicentennial (obverse) and the Battle of Bennington (reverse).

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York; it is 63mm in diameter. The CFA was not involved in the privately-struck commemorative piece.

I consider the medal to be a noteworthy "cousin" to the 1927 commemorative half-dollar and a fine example of Keck's artistic abilities.


1927 Vermont/Battle of Bennington Sesquicentennial Medal



For more about the Bennington-Vermont half dollar, check out:

- 1927 Bennington-Vermont Independence Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

To check out another 1927 commemorative medal created by Charles Keck, check out:

- 1927 Founding of New York State Government Sesquicentennial

For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.