(1865) Medal J-PE-36 Bronze 76mm Cornelius Vanderbilt

Coin Details

Auction Record

$456 SP63 03-25-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 76mm bronze medal cataloged as Julian PE-36 honors Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), the shipping and railroad magnate who was the wealthiest American of his era. The medal dates from approximately 1865, when Vanderbilt was at the peak of his power and transitioning from his shipping empire to his even more lucrative railroad consolidations. Vanderbilt donated his steamship Vanderbilt to the Union Navy during the Civil War, and Congress commissioned this medal in recognition of that patriotic gift. The Julian PE-36 designation places it in the Personal Edition series of the Julian medal catalog. At 76mm, this is a substantial art medal that provides ample space for Vanderbilt's portrait and commemorative inscriptions. The "Commodore," as Vanderbilt was known from his shipping days, built the New York Central Railroad system and amassed a fortune estimated at $100 million at his death — roughly equivalent to $2.5 billion in modern terms. His donation of the warship demonstrated that even the nation's most hard-nosed capitalist recognized the existential threat posed by the Civil War.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Julian PE-36 medals in 76mm bronze were produced by the U.S. Mint in limited quantities as official duplicates of the congressional presentation medal.

Cross References

PCGS #784650; Julian PE-36; Cornelius Vanderbilt