Campaign & Presidency Collections

New Jersey Historical Society Medal for the 1889 Centennial Celebration of George Washington's inauguration. The New Jersey Historical Society was involved throughout the 1889 Centennial Celebration. In January 1889 the New Jersey Historical Society resolved that a medal be struck commemorating the centennial of the inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States. A design would be selected and striking in gold, silver, and bronze would be made. Tardier the engraver and Tiffany & Co. were engaged to manufacture dies for the medal. A mistake in the quotation from Washington struck on the first medal was discovered. Illness of the engraver and the need to correct the mistake held up the production until 1894. In the Society's January 1894 minutes it is resolved that in carrying out the Society's 1889 resolution, Number 1, now being struck in gold, be presented to ex-President Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States during the Centennial year. 1895 marked the 50th anniversary of the New Jersey Historical Society. They invited ex-President Benjamin Harrison to make a special presentation to him of a gold copy, of the centennial medal struck by the Society. The presentation took place in Newark in May 1895.