Owner Comments:
1907 BRONZE MEDAL
FIRST PHILIPPINE LEGISLATIVE ASSENBLY
VISIT OF SECRETARY OF WAR TAFT
SPECIFICATIONS
Struck by:Crispulo Zamora
Mint Mark: CZ
Diameter: 38 mm
Composition: Bronze
Weight: 24.8 grams
ENGRAVER
Crispulo de Mendoza Zamora (10 June 1871 - 11 October 1922)
OBVERSE
The obverse features the seal of the Government of the U.S. Territory of the Philippines. Inscriptions round the circumference of the obverse are: "Venida Del Secretario De La Guerra Mr. Taft / Para Inaugurar La Asamblea Filipina" / Islas Filipinas.. The inscriptions, which are in Spanish, translate as: "Coming of Secretary of War Mr. Taft / To Inaugurate The Philippine Assembly" / Philippine Islands".
REVERSE
inscribed in Spanish in the center of the reverse is the date "16 Octuber 1907" (October 16 1907). Below the date in very smal letters are the initials "CZ" (Crispula Zamora). Inscriptions round the circumference of the reverse are: "Inauguracion De La Asamblea Filipina / Gobierno Del General Smith / Festejos Populares" The inscriptions which are in Spanish translate as :"Inauguration Of The Philippine Assembly / Governor General Smith / Popular Celebrations"
CATALOG NUMBERS
BASSO-743
HONEYCUTT-79a
The inauguration of the first Philippine Legeslative Assembly was a major milestone in building democratic processes in the Philippine Islands. To celebrate this momentous occasion Secretary of War William Howard Taft traveled to the Philippines to join the celebration. Taft who was the first U.S. Governor General of the Philippines had been promoted to Secretary of War by President Theodore Roosevelt but still had responsibility for the Philippines as the Bureau of Insular Affairs in the U.S. War Department administered all of America's Island Territories.
As part of the celebration the Philippines premier engraver Crispula Zamora designed and engraved medals in two different designs. Both designs were struck in bronze and Silvered Bronze and all are very rare. Although both designs celebrate the 1st Philippine Legislative Assembly only this design commemorates the visit of Secretary of War Taft to this important event.
Purchased from Heritage Auctions in their 2019 September 5 - 9 Long Beach Expo World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction, Long Beach #3076, Session 5, Lot # 34506.
NGC AU58 BN
NGC Population: 1/0 (February 10 2022)