Re: Original "Kittanning Destroyed" medal sold

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: : : Friends, fellow Kittanning Trekkers, and other thrill-seekers!
: : :  
: : : I have just returned from the fine city of Baltimore where I witnessed the sale at auction of an original Kittanning Destroyed medal. I had gone with the hopes of perhaps bringing it home. 
: : :  
: : : The silver medal, which has been in a LARGE private collection since 1972, is near uncirculated condition with minor dings and marks. There were also 2 copper restrikes, one done between 1760 and 1800, the other between 1830 and 1874, when the dies were finally destroyed. These 2 medals showed varying degrees of die damage.
: : :  
: : : It is surmised that, since the silver medals were awarded to only Lt. Col. Armstrong and the officers who were on the Kittanning Expedition, and survived it, there were only 20 struck. This medal is the first ever awarded for valor in battle and is the first struck in America. This makes three originals I know about, and possibly five, although I have not verifyed two of them.
: : :  
: : : The starting bid was $8000 and the knockdown price was $58,000 (Yep! You read that right!!) for the silver medal. The restrikes were $500/$1700 and $200/$380, respectively. While I had prepared to spend some money to buy it, I jumped out early on the silver medal!
: : : ...and my bank account and Civil War collection is still intact!
: : :  
: : : Oh, yes...and I did have a fine buffet dinner last night provided for registered bidders by the auction house.
: : :  
: : : Mike Slease
: : : Lt. Col. John Armstrong,
: : : Kittanning Trek 2000
: : :  
: : : P.S.-- I will be VERY happy with the silver medals we had made (copies of the original, with modifications so they cannot be passed off as originals)to help finance our trek! I will be wearing it at The Gathering, as I do anytime I do an event. Just ask...I will be proud to show it to you!

: : : My daughter says "holy crap!!!  Well, at least you wont be sleeping outside with snookie and 
: : : coco...mom wouldve made your bed there if you had come home with that medal 
: : : last night for 58,000....... 

: : : i hope you ate alot....LOL"

: : : FYI Snookie and Coco are deceased pets...a guinea pig and our dog...buried in our shade garden.....!!

: : **********************

: : Well, something ELSE I've learned from you about this period in history - that was soooo interesting!!  It must have been amazing just SEEING that silver medal!! It would be akin to touching the dressed stone of our local Abbey, built in 1095, knowing that the stones were put in place by monks, men, who lived nearly a thousand years ago. I touch them and I imagine they still hold the warmth of those stonemason's hands, as they crafted something which was to stand for a thousand years.  It's almost beyond imagining, isn't it?

: : As so with that silver medal - cast and presented to men who fought for something they believed in - pinned on their chests for all to know of their courage and their valour.  To set eyes on these symbols, hoping perhaps to be their 'keeper', if only for a moment in time - it's almost beyond imagining, isn't it??

: : Thank you for telling us about this medal - I'm honoured you cared to tell us about this (very obviously) special trip of yours.

: : Kate.

: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
: Hello Kate, 

: Yes,it is very much like you touching your stone abbey. To see and touch something like this is indeed, very special and awesome!

: A man found a silver "Kittanning Destroyed" medal in an old stone foundation in West Virginia a few years ago while poking around with his metal detector. It had a hole drilled through it so it could be hung around the neck on a thong or ribbon. One side was worn nearly smooth from rubbing on his chest or his shirt. Its owner was obviously an officer who was awarded this medal, and was quite proud of it and what he had done. The current owner had it on display at Kittanning when we marched in there last fall, and he permitted me to hold it and examine it. As I closed my hand around the medal, I felt it speak to me as I imagined that soldier, so long ago, doing the very same thing as I was doing. I can only imagine how he felt...and I cannot adequately describe my feelings as I held it tight.

: The holed drilled in it was near the bottom as one would hold it and gaze upon it, but when hung around the neck it hung upside down. Thus, when its wearer wanted to look at it, as I have no doubt he did frequently, he merely picked it up and looked at it right side up! I have drilled my medal the same way. It hangs around my neck on a dark green gros grain ribbon whenever I am doing an event, whether merely a speech on the period, a school program, or a full blown reenactment. Anytime I have on colonial clothes, military or civilian, I wear my medal. While our accomplishment cannot hold a candle to Armstrong's, our successful remembrance of his effort is every bit as important to us.

: I have enclosed the URL which will take you to the story of the foundation find. Enjoy!!

: http://www.treasurenet.com/westeast/tenbest94/3.html

: Pax aye!

: And Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
: Seamus




Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: