"1846" The Mexican War / Loss of the Somers Medal. By Charles Cushing Wright. Julian NA-24. Silver. MS-63 (NGC).
58 mm. Edge inscribed to the recipient JOHN COCKRELL, GUNNER's MATE. Exceptional quality for this classic Naval medal. Both sides exhibit a base of pearl-gray patina with iridescent reddish-gold and steel-olive overtones that are most pronounced at the peripheries. Modestly semi-reflective in the fields, the design elements are frosty and sharply rendered. A few wispy handling marks explain the Choice Mint State grade from NGC, the only one of note well concealed within the clouds on the obverse. Authorized by Congress on March 3, 1847, production of the Loss of the Somers medal did not commence until the fall of 1850. The original reverse die prepared by Wright contained an engraving error in the legend: PRO VITA AMERICANA PRESERVANDA (For Having Saved An American Life) instead of PRO VITIS AMERICANORUM CONSERVATIS (For Having Saved American Lives). (A rare surviving example struck from the original reverse is offered below, in the following lot.) When the error was discovered at the Navy Department, Wright was forced to prepare a completely new reverse die, which promptly cracked when being hardened at the Mint. Wright presumably prepared yet a third reverse die, from which the ordered 10 gold and 100 silver impressions were finally struck. These pieces were first offered for sale in 1861. This silver piece, from the properly prepared reverse die, is exceptionally well preserved and would fit nicely into a specialized cabinet.
Ex Rudman Collection.