Historical Objects / Medals

Collection of Tyler Yates

Hudson–Fulton Celebration

Engraver:
Emil Fuchs
Year:
1909
Country:
United States
Diameter:
63 mm
Obverse:
Henry Hudson leaning on the railing of the ship and three sailors grouped on either side of him.
DISCOVERY OF HUDSON RIVER BY HENRY HUDSON A· D· MDCIX
THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMM:
HALVE MAENE
Reverse:
Three seated women. One woman is holding a model of the first steamship on the Hudson, the 'Clermont' while the other two women hold an anchor and a scroll. Two columns are shown behind the women.
ROBERT FULTON 1765 1815
FIRST USE OF STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE HUDSON RIVER 1807

This medal was made for the Hudson–Fulton Celebration held in 1909. The Hudson–Fulton Celebration commemorated two separate events. The first is the discovery of the Hudson River in 1609 by Henry Hudson. The second is the first successful commercial application of the paddle steamer, the Clermont, by Robert Fulton in 1807.

The medal was designed by Emil Fuchs. Interestingly, Fuchs did not know the proper 17th century spelling of Hudson's ship and settled for "Half Maene". Modern spelling of the ship's name is "Halve Maen".

A total of 124,698 of these medals were struck in six sizes.