Commems Collection Medals: 1875 Mecklenburg Declaration Centennial

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is a somewhat controversial part of North Carolina's history. In brief, some historians believe that representatives of Mecklenburg County met on May 19th and 20th in 1775 to discuss, debate and decide what steps would be taken by the county in response to the increasing oppression they were being subject to by King George III, the British Parliament and local Crown authorities. Further, it is said that the assembled representatives developed a series of resolutions that declared Mecklenburg County's independence from Great Britain; the document is said to have been read to an assembled public on May 20, 1775 from the steps of the Charlotte Courthouse. If this is all true, it would be very significant considering it occurred more than a year before the national Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

There is a problem, however. No original written copy of the May 20th resolves exists and no contemporary newspaper accounts of the meetings or the alleged public reading of the document have been found. (Newspaper evidence does exist for a series of less divisive Resolves passed in Mecklenburg on May 31, 1775. Contributor to the confusion?) "Proof" of the document comes from the memories and testimonies of those claiming either to have signed the original document, been part of the meetings that created them or at least present in Charlotte at the time of the meetings (all recalled/reported in 1819 and later). This makes some believe that the events and document are more fantasy than reality - but no one knows with absolute certainty!

To help celebrate the "MeckDec's" 100th anniversary in 1875, the US Mint was asked to strike a commemorative medal. Though the piece is most definitely a medal, it has certain characteristics that bring it close to the coin realm! (See planchet discussion below.)

The medal's obverse features several symbolic design elements. At its center is a tree branch supporting a Phrygian (Liberty) cap and a hornet's nest (complete with flying hornets). The hornet's nest is a reference dating to the Revolutionary War. After British General Lord Cornwallis unsuccessfully battled local militias in the Battle of Charlotte in September, 1780, he wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion." "Hornet's Nest" was soon adopted as the city's moniker and later became part of its official seal. Also seen on the obverse are the anniversary dates "1775 - 1875" and a pair of clasped hands (with some of the longest fingers you'll ever see!) representing the post Civil War reconciliation of the North and South. The central design elements are surrounded by a series of rays.

The simple reverse features the inscriptions Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and 20 May 20 1775.

Two versions of the medal were struck: copper/bronze and silver.

The medals are 30.6 millimeters (mm) in diameter and 2.15 mm in thickness, they have a plain edge. As the silver medals were struck on existing US half-dollar planchets, they are of the standard coin composition of 0.900 fine silver and 0.100 copper, with a weight of 12.5 grams; my silver piece weighs 12.44 grams. The bronze pieces were struck using the standard copper cent composition of 0.950 copper and 0.050 tin and zinc. The two bronze pieces in my collection vary slightly in weight; one weighs 11.07 grams, the other 10.98 grams. The Mint rolled standard copper cent material to the appropriate thickness for the bronze medals and then created planchets using half-dollar sized punches.

The US Mint struck 1,005 silver medals and 1,000 bronze medals on standard coining presses; 25 bronze and five silver proofs were also struck. Both medals are difficult to find today and, as would be expected, nice examples command quite a premium.

Whether or not the actual Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of May 20, 1775 is real or an event distorted by time and faded memories is still the subject of debate - supporters on both sides of the argument believe they have compelling evidence to support their position - but the commemorative medal struck by the US Mint in 1875 is very real!

1875 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Centennial Medal - Copper


1875 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Centennial Medal - Silver



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