Medal commemorating the discovery of the Hudson River, 1609 and the first steamer on the Hudson, 1807

Medal commemorating the discovery of the Hudson River, 1609, and the first steamer on the Hudson, 1807. Obverse: The deck of the Half Moon with Hudson leaning on the bulwarks and three sailors grouped on either side. Legend: 'DISCOVERY OF HUDSON RIVER BY HENRY HUDSON A . D . MDCIX', 'THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY' (left); 'HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMM' (right). Exergue: The ship Half Moon, 'HALVE MAENE'. Reverse: Three seated women, one (centre) holding a model of the steamship 'Clermont', one (left) an anchor, the other (right) a scroll (they represent Steam Navigation, History and Commerce). A balustrade and two columns are shown behind with distant views of New York in 1809 (left) and 1909 (right); a medallion portrait of Fulton in centre. Inscription: 'ROBERT FULTON 1765 1815'. Exergue: 'FIRST USE OF STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE HUDSON RIVER 1807'. A total of 124, 698 of these medals were struck in six sizes. This size was presented to the Commission and principal guests.

Object Details

ID: MEC2095
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Whitehead & Hoag; Fuchs, Emil
Events: Henry Hudson's voyage to North America, 1609
Vessels: Clermont fl.1807; Half Moon fl.1609
Date made: 1909
People: Hudson, Henry; Hudson, Henry Fulton, Robert Fuchs, Emil Whitehead & Hoag
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: x x x 101 mm