School, College and University Medals

1905 Portsmouth, New Hampshire High School Award Medal. Gold. Reeded Edge. Extremely Fine.

21.5 mm. 6.0 grams total weight, fineness unknown. Lopped for suspension with attached ring. Obv: Inscribed PORTSMOUTH / HAVEN / MEDAL / 1905 / HIGH SCHOOL. Rev: Inscribed AWARDED / TO / MARION F. THOMAS / FOR HISTORY / FOUR YEARS. Apparently engraved on a planed-down half eagle five-dollar gold coin. The Haven medal has been awarded annually since 1863 thanks to the bequeathing of a $500 gift to the town from a former student, Nathaniel Haven, Jr., who died during his senior year at Harvard University. He stipulated that only the interest from his gift be used to produce annual medals in perpetuity for the outstanding male students in Latin, Greek, Reading and Mathematics. Later donations from other individuals added to the fund, and female students were included as Haven medal recipients. The Haven medals, now struck in silver, are still being awarded more than 150 years later.

From the Steve M. Tompkins Collection.

Estimate: 400