The 300th anniversary of Norwalk, CT was commemorated in 1951 with a two-inch bronze medal struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York on behalf of the Norwalk Historical Society.
Norwalk was incorporated as a town in 1651 (the event being commemorated by the medal), but the land for the present-day town was purchased from the local Native Americans in two segments a decade prior. In 1640, Roger Ludlow purchased land east of the Norwalk River; in 1641, Daniel Patrick, acquired land west of the Norwalk River. The first European settlers moved into the area in 1649, and continued arriving thereafter.
The obverse of the medal depicts a scene with Rodger Ludlow negotiating his land purchase with Chief Mahackemo of the Norwalke Native American tribe (a second Native American is seen kneeling to the Chief's right). The inscription "MAHACKEMO 1640 LUDLOW" encircles the figures near the rim, with "NORWALKE" presented below.
The central element of the medal's reverse is the Seal of the City of Norwalk with an uninscribed scroll below it. The commemorative dates "1651" and "1951" flank the Seal in a vertical orientation.
As per the City of Norwalk, CT ordinances:
The seal of the city shall be as follows: In a straight line across the center are the words "E Pluribus Unum," at the upper left is a bridge with water flowing thereunder, at the upper right is an old well, and underneath is a monument. Encircling the whole are the letters and figures following: "Seal of the City of Norwalk, Incorporated 1913." The monument referred to in the code is the Roger Ludlow Monument, which was dedicated in 1895. The medal replaces the Seal's encircling text with the commemorative inscription: "NORWALK CONNECTICUT - THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY" in a delineated outer ring.
The central feature of the reverse incorporates the seal of the city of Norwalk embossed on a shield with a flowing scroll below. The shield is flanked by the dates "1651" and "1951, " arranged vertically. The wording "THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY — NORWALK CONNECTICUT" appears around the outer edge and is separated from the central design by a relief circle.
Iniitial reports stated that 500 of the medals were struck, but left open the possibility of additional pieces. The medal's issue price was $2.75 (postage included); it was likely sold for $2.50 locally/in-person. Net proceeds from the sale of the medals were to be used toward construction of a permanent museum in Norwalk, it does not appear, however, that this objective was accomplished. (At least not in the short-term; it was decades before a permanent local museum would be established.)
I picked up my example of the medal in the early 2000s; it was in its original box. It is an "As Struck" example free of distracting impairments.
1951 Norwalk, CT 300th Anniversary Medal
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Posted 04/22/2022 2:40 pm
