Undated (1858) Cyrus W. Field Laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable Medal. First Reverse. Bronze. 51 mm. By George Hampden Lovett, Published by Augustus B. Sage. Specimen-64 (PCGS).

Obv: Wreathed bust of Field facing right, name above, signed G.H. LOVETT N.Y,. below bust, A.B. SAGE PUB. along lower right border. Rev: Wreath encircles central inscription PRESENTED / TO / CYRUS W. FIELD / BY A FEW OF HIS FRIENDS / IN / NEW YORK, FOR / HIS PERSEVERANCE IN / SUPERINTG THE LAYING / OF THE / ATLANTIC TELEGH / CABLE. Second inscription NIL DESPERANDUM, PERSEVERANTI VINCIT. along upper border, 13 stars along lower border. Rich mahogany-brown surfaces. This is the earliest known medal to display Augustus B. Sage's name, and it honors Cyrus West Field, the American financier and merchant who planned and supervised the Atlantic telegraph cable that linked North America to the British Isles. Although he was successful in having the 1,950-statue-mile cable laid on August 5, 1858, it failed on September 1 of that year and was not replaced until the summer of 1866. Regardless, Field was widely celebrated for his initial achievement at the time and, among other honors, a gold medal was commissioned by some of his personal friends in New York. The medal, struck from dies prepared by George Hampden Lovett, was presented to Field by New York City Mayor Tiemann at the Crystal Palace on September 1, 1858, which, ironically, was the day that the first cable failed. There are two varieties of the Lovett-Sage Field medal known, both of which share the same obverse. It is actually the second reverse that was used to strike the gold medal presented to Field, which design was praised by the contemporary press. The present example was struck from the first reverse, which was apparently prepared before August 5, 1858, when the exact date that Field would complete laying the Atlantic Cable was unknown. The die developed an early bisecting crack, which also contributed to its retirement in favor of the second reverse dated August 5, 1858. The exact number of bronze, white metal and silver impressions made from the first reverse are unknown, but Bowers describes all three metallic compositions as "very rare" in his 1998 reference American Numismatics before the Civil War, 1760-1860: Emphasizing the story of Augustus B. Sage.

From the Q. David Bowers Collection.