Owner Comments:
1899 FROM OLYMPIA TO OLYMPIA
Composition: Copper
Diameter: 46mm
Thickness: 3mm
This beautiful medal was issued to correspond with the presentation of a Bronze tablet from the citizens of Olympia Washington to the USFS Olympia upon her return from the Spanish American War.
In a special ceremony conducted on September 29, 1899 the massive bronze tablet, four feet high and three hundred pounds in weight, was mounted on the forward turret of the Protected Cruiser Olympia immediately between its two great guns- a tribute "From Olympia to Olympia". The plaque was designed by a young American sculptor, Paul Winters Morris, under the supervision and guidance of his mentor Daniel Chester French. The central portion of the tablet depicts Victory in flowing robes, bearing in her outstretched hands a scroll across which is inscribed Dewey's historic command, "GRIDLEY, YOU MAY FIRE WHEN READY" Below the scroll in six straight lines divided by the figure of Victory is the inscription; "FROM THE CITIZENS OF OLYMPIA AND STATE OF WASHINGTON GREETINGS OF OLYMPIA TO HER NAMESAKE MDCCC XCVIII"
To commemorate the dedication of that tablet a bronze medal was struck bearing on its obverse a replica of the original plaque and on its reverse a likeness of Admiral Dewey and an impression of the Flagship Olympia.
Reference: "From Olympia To Olympia" by William Dewey in THE NUMISMATIST, January, 1946 pages 6 - 7.
Encapsulated on 10/21/2019