This print shows the front side of a medal created in commemoration of the sestercentennial (250th anniversary) of the Pilgrims landing in Plymouth. The image text reads, "Pilgrim Jubilee Memorial / 1620 / 1870."
The print shows the image at about 6 inches wide, but the coins themselves are much smaller, about one-fourth that size. They were struck in silver, copper, and brass for distribution to attendees of the anniversary celebration at the Church of the First Parish in Plymouth, Mass. The medals were designed by two members of the Pilgrim Society, Joseph E. Ellis and Asa C. Warren.
Several coin collecting websites list them as rare, but that may simply be because we have a number of the actual coins in our archive. On the reverse side is a picture of an open Bible wreathed by olive and oak branches, beneath a flying dove and the words "Whose Faith Follow". Over time, they have oxidized a bit, creating rings of color on their surfaces, but the images are still quite clear.
If you'd like to learn more about the history of the Pilgrims, search for "Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)" in the library catalog.
--Robin
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