"1849" Medal Life Saving Medal 51mm Silver LSBA of New York

Coin Details

Description

This 51mm silver medal was issued by the Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York, the civic organization founded in 1849 to honor heroic lifesaving acts in New York Harbor and surrounding waters. The silver medal represented the LSBA's second tier of recognition, awarded for acts of significant bravery in rescuing persons from drowning or maritime peril. Like the gold version, the 51mm format allowed for detailed engraving on both sides, typically featuring maritime imagery and inscriptions identifying the recipient and the specific rescue being commemorated. The LSBA drew its membership and financial support from New York's shipping merchants, insurance underwriters, and civic leaders who understood the daily dangers faced by those working on or near the water. During the 19th century, before modern safety equipment and procedures, drownings and maritime accidents were commonplace in the heavily trafficked harbor, and the LSBA's medals served both to honor individual bravery and to encourage lifesaving efforts among the waterfront community.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver LSBA medals were individually engraved for recipients and produced in small numbers. They appear infrequently in auction and dealer inventories.

Cross References

PCGS #893515; Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York