Life Saving Medals

Rare Gold Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal

Awarded in 1902

1902 Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal. By George Hampden Lovett. Gold. Prooflike Mint State.

51.1 mm. 802.7 grains, fineness unknown. Obv: Sailing ship foundering in storm, House of Refuge on shore dispatches rescuers in life boat while others fire a lifeline from a Lyle Gun on the beach. Rev: Oak wreath at border, inscription VITA FELICIBUS AUSIS SERVATA above, center inscribed to the recipient PRESENTED TO / CAPTAIN A. POTJER / OF S.S. POTSDAM IN RECOGNITION / OF HIS HUMANITY AND SEAMANSHIP / IN RESCUING THE OFFICERS AND / CREW OF THE FOUNDERING / BARK "BISHOP BRUN" / IN A HIGH CROSS SEA. MID- / ATLANTIC OCEAN / JUNE 25, 1902. Deeply mirrored in the fields, this beautiful bright medium golden specimen exhibits only the typical light handling marks for an awarded example. While we have handled a few gold medals of this type in recent years, they are clearly far rarer than their silver and bronze counterparts.

Estimate: 4000