Congressional Life Saving Medal S.s. San Francisco

This 82 mm. medal is classified as a Lifesaving medal in tribute to Captains Creighton, Low and Stouffer for their actions in saving the passengers, officers and crew of the S.S. San Francisco. This medal is cataloged as LS-11 in R.W. Julian's "Medals of the United States Mint, The First Century 1792-1892". From Julian, "The Treasury Department contracted with the Philadelphia jewelry firm of Bailey, Banks and Biddle to strike the medals to be awarded by Congress. Three gold medals were struck by the U.S.Mint in June, 1868"-(to be awarded to the aforementioned). Limited mintage of the bronzed copper LS-11 commenced in 1874, and sales to the public commenced in 1875. Actual mintage totals for production from 1874 through the late 1800's is unknown. Modern yellow bronze reproductions of these were also created by the Mint in the 1970's. The original bronzed copper issue of the 1870's typically have proof like surfaces and a mahogany coloration. The Mint state example shown below is from the Virgil Brand Collection, and was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2008 for about $1100.
The San Francisco was chartered by the U. S. Government as a troop ship, and sailed from New York for San Francisco, California on Dec. 22, 1853, having on board eight Companies of the Third Regiment U. S. Artillery. On the 23rd of December, while sailing near the southern edge of the Gulf Stream, the San Francisco was caught in a hurricane which disabled the ships engines, and it sustained further damage while floundering in severe weather for over 6 days, during which time 59 lives were lost. On December 30 Captain James T. Watkins determined that the ship must be abandoned, yet it took 5 days to secure transfer of remaining passengers and crew to various vessels that had responded to the distress signal.