1864 U. S. Sanitary Commission Medal Great Central Fair, Philadelphia

  
In commemoration of the GREAT CENTRAL FAIR for the U. SANITARY COMMISSION held at PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 1864. This is an image of both the obverse and reverse of a bronze coppered medal commemorating the Great Central Fair, in aid of the U. Sanitary Commission Logan Square, Philadelphia, June 1864. The United States Sanitary Commission (USSC) was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.

Army during the American Civil War. Sanitary Fairs offered ways for local communities to be directly part of supporting the war effort of the nation. In 1861, the Philadelphia branch of the relief organization, the United States Sanitary Commission, began collecting monetary donations in order to supply Union soldiers with basic necessities and medical supplies.

This medal was struck in commemoration of the Great Central Fair and was based on a design used in circulars issued by the Committees. This bronze medal was struck as a permanent memorial and presented to the Executive Committee by Mr. The dies are by Paquet who worked for the United States Mint as an artist employed by the Government to prepare the dies of all the medals voted by Congress for military services.

- Biographical note on the engraver: Anthony C. On the outer rim of the obverse of the medal was engraved these words "WE FIVE OUR WEALTH FOR THOSE WHO GIVE THEIR HEALTH FOR US". A female classical figure holding a horn of plenty and handing a chalice to one soldier that is seated.

Two soldiers are depicted in the center (one is reclining and one is seated wearing a cap reaching towards the chalice). - For more information see: Charles J.

Stille, Memorial of The Great Central Fair for the U. Sanitary Commission Held at Philadelphia, June 1864 (Philadelphia, United States Sanitary Commission, 1864), p.

Its impact on Civil War medicine Med Rec News. 1976 Aug;47(4):70-5.