New York City (NYC), New York is one of the leading cities of the United States - and in the world! So, it was not a surprise when NYC decided to get actively involved in celebrating the US Bicentennial and formed the New York City Bicentennial Corporation ("Corporation") "to formulate plans for the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution." The Corporation was established in 1970 by the New York City Council.
NYC traces its start to 1624 and the establishment of New Amsterdam on present-day Governor's Island (called "Paggank" or "Nut Island" by the Lenape); the small settlement was sponsored by the Dutch West India Company. Settlers moved to the much larger Manhattan Island beginning in the following year, and in 1626 Peter Minuit purchased the island from the local Lenape inhabitants so that the settlement could continue to grow as needed
New York City was an active participant in the American Revolution, and also played a central role in the early history of the US.
From the Introduction to an exhibition titled
New York in the American Revolution mounted by The Society of the Cincinnati in 1998-99:
"New York was the strategic key to both the American and British campaigns during the American Revolution. Situated at the geographic hub of the colonies, with an excellent harbor and network of waterways to the north and west, New York was the scene of nearly one-third of all Revolutionary War battles. The British captured New York City in 1776 and occupied it for seven years. Their evacuation and Washington's triumphal re-entry into the city in late November 1783 were the last military events of the war."
Following the war, NYC was in the middle of the launch of the new nation's Federal Government. NYC was the US capital from 1785 until 1789 under the Articles of Confederation, and in 1789-90 under the US Constitution; the capital moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in December 1790. George Washington was sworn in as the first US President in NYC in 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall. The City was also briefly host to the US Supreme Court in 1790; the Court met within a two-story marketplace building known as the Royal Exchange.
Included among the plans/projects of the NYC Bicentennial Corporation was the striking of a commemorative medal. The
American Numismatic Society (ANS) was also involved and issued the piece as part of its long-running medal series. The ANS logo is seen on the reverse, below the cannon.
American Numismatic Society Logo
(Image Credit. American Numismatic Society. Public Domain.)The medal's obverse presents the first Federal Hall, New York City's first City Hall and the meeting location of the 1st US Congress; below Federal Hall is the Seal of NYC. The reverse presents a hypothetical scene representing the American Revolution with colonial soldiers manning a cannon; below the cannon is the ANS logo. (See the leaflet images below for more details on the medal's designs.)
New York City Bicentennial Medal - Bronze, Large
The medal was struck by Medallic Art Company of New York. It was designed/sculpted by John Russell Ridge. Ridge's designs were selected from those submitted in a contest held in 1972. I'm aware of the medal being struck in gold (25 mm) and bronze (63 mm and 38 mm)
For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, includin more on the Texas half dollar, see:
Commems Collection.
1976 New York City Bicentennial Medal - Leaflet / Front, Top
1976 New York City Bicentennial Medal - Leaflet / Front, Bottom
1976 New York City Bicentennial Medal - Leaflet / Back, Top
1976 New York City Bicentennial Medal - Leaflet / Back, Bottom
Posted 06/12/2024 09:23 am
