Medal
- Object Name:
- Medal
- Object ID:
- 2014.045
- Creator:
- Eastman, Seth (1801-1885); Cross, Peter F. (1815-1862); Longacre, James Barton (1794-1869)
- Place of Origin:
- Philadelphia, PA
- Date:
- 1854
- Description:
- Bronze medal presented to Commander Duncan N. Ingraham for gallant conduct in the Koszta Affair at Smyrna, Turkey, 1854, during the administration of Franklin Pierce. Obverse: "SMYRNA. / AMERICAN / SLOOP OF WAR / ST LOUIS. / AUSTRIAN / BRIG OF WAR / HUSSAR." in band beneath scene of two warships in the harbor of Smyrna, Turkey. "S EASTMAN D" stamped on left side under scene; "P. F. CROSS SC." stamped on right side under scene. "LONGACRE" stamped on bottom above rim. Reverse: "PRESENTED / BY THE / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / TO / COMMANDER DUNCAN N. INGRAHAM / AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THE HIGH SENSE / ENTERTAINED BY CONGRESS / OF HIS GALLANT AND JUDICIOUS CONDUCT / ON THE 2D OF JULY 1853. / JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS AUGUST 4TH 1854" stamped on a panel above an eagle with outstretched wings clutching an anchor, stars, and sunbeams, on a laurel and oak leaf wreath extending upward around the text. "S. EASTMAN D." stamped on left side between bottom of wreath and rim. "J. B. LONGACRE SC." stamped on right side between bottom of wreath and rim. Bronzed copper.
- Material:
- Metal
Copper
Bronze - Dimensions:
- D-0.4 Dia-4 inches
- Provenance:
- On July 2, 1853, in the harbor of Smyrna, Turkey, Commander Duncan N. Ingraham threatened to open fire on the Austrian Brig of War, Hussar, to force the release of captured Hungarian revolutionary Martin Koszta, who had proclaimed his intention to seek asylum and citizenship in the United States. The obverse of the medal depicts the confrontation between the two naval vessels in rescuing Koszta at gunpoint.
Lot 10074, Stack's Bowers auction, Baltimore, October 30, 2014. Previously sold by Stack's in January 2003, lot 1598 - Credit Line:
- New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase
- Subjects:
- Warships, Naval warfare, Naval ships, Diplomacy, Exiles, Immigrants, Oak leaves, Laurel wreath
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