Obverse: Head and Shoulders of a sailor in the water clinging to a mast, inscription: 'U.S.' signalling with his right hand to a distant ship (left) clouds (right) two birds flying above. Reverse: Within a wreath of oak and laurel held (below) by an eagle, wings outspread, the stars of the states and inscription: 'The President of the United States to Thomas Holbroun (Holbourn) for his humane, zealous and successful efforts in rescuing the Master and Crew of the American ship Northern Belle from the perils of the sea, 1857'.

Awarded by President Franklin Pierce to the crews of the two Broadstairs lifeboats for rescuing the crew of the US ‘Northern Belle’. She had anchored off Kingsgate, Kent in blizzard conditions and was in danger of being driven onshore. On the morning of the 5 January, the Margate lugger ‘Victory’ was nearby ready to provide assistance, when she was swamped and foundered with the loss of her twelve crew. Another lugger ‘Ocean’, also from Margate was able to take off five men from the stricken vessel. Meanwhile the two lifeboats had to be hauled by horse drawn trailers overland to Kingsgate as conditions made it impossible to launch them at Broadstairs. In late evening anchor cables of the ‘Northern Belle’ parted and the ship was driven on shore. The following morning the lifeboats ‘Mary White’ and ‘Culmer White’ were launched at Kingsgate and took off the remaining 23 survivors.