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Medal Name: Benjamin Franklin
Struck for: Benjamin Franklin
OBVERSE
BENJ. FRANKLIN NATUS BOSTON. XVII JAN. MDCCVI. (Benjamin Franklin natus Boston, 17 Januarii, 1706: Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston, January 17, 1706..)
Bust of Franklin, facing the left.
REVERSE
ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS. (He drew fire from heaven and wrenched thesceptre from tyrants.)
A genius pointing with his right hand to a lightning-rod attracting the electric spark,and with his left to a broken crown and sceptre at his feet.
Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRÉANNO MDCCLXXXIV. (Sculpsit et dicavit Augustinus Dupré, anno 1784: Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupré, in the year 1784)
BACKGROUND
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, January 17, 1706. He began life as an apprentice to his brother, a printer;went to England to follow his trade, but ultimately settled in Philadelphia in 1726, where he edited the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and in 1732 began the publication of "Poor Richard's Almanac." He founded the first fire company in 1737, and soon afterward the first fire insurance company. In 1752 he discovered the identity of lightning and the electric fluid, and invented the lightning-rod. In consideration of his brilliant services to science, the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the university of Oxford in 1762. Benjamin Franklin was a member of the Continental Congress, 1775-1776; a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the commissioners to France, 1776-1785. He signed the offensive and defensive treaty with France, in Paris, February 6, 1778; and the definitive treaty of peace with England, September 3, 1783. He was governor of Pennsylvania,1786-1788; and died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. Congress ordered a mourning of four months, and the National Assembly of France, on the proposal of Mirabeau, seconded by Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld and General de la Fayette, went into mourning for three days. Turgot composed in his honor the celebrated latin verse:
Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)