(1851) Silver Medal J-SC-11, Boston Schools(Regular Strike)

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal, cataloged as J-SC-11, was produced for the Boston Schools as a regular strike award medal. The Julian SC (School) designation indicates this was part of the U.S. Mint's program of producing award medals for educational institutions, a service the Mint provided throughout the nineteenth century. Boston's public school system, one of the oldest in America, used these silver medals as prizes for academic achievement, rewarding outstanding students with tangible recognition of their accomplishments. The circa 1851 date places this during a period of educational reform in Massachusetts led by Horace Mann, who had championed public education as essential to democratic society. Silver school medals are among the most personal products of the U.S. Mint, representing individual achievement rather than national commemoration. The J-SC-11 catalog number identifies the specific die design used for Boston School medals during this era, with different numbers corresponding to variations in the award text and iconography.

Rarity Notes

J-SC-11, silver composition. Boston Schools award medal, regular strike. Limited production for academic prizes. Scarce survivors.

Cross References

PCGS #914482; Julian SC-11; Boston Schools Medal, Silver; Academic Award circa 1851