Watch List notes:

1867 Cyrus Field Atlantic Telegraph Cable Bronzed Copper Medal. (103mm, 543.3 g, 12h). Philadelphia mint. Designed by Joseph Goldsborough Bruff, and engraved by William Barber. HONOR AND FAME ARE THE REWARD, a hand emanating from clouds about to place a laurel wreath on the head of Cyrus Field facing left, which is placed on a group of clouds; below, two ships sailing toward partial globes inscribed AMERICA and EUROPE; the two continents are connected by a chain at the bottom; above the chain, INDOMITABLE PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURING FAITH ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS; all within a cable border / BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, MARCH 2, 1867. TO CYRUS W. FIELD, OF NEW YORK, FOR HIS FORESIGHT, FAITH, AND PERSISTENCY, IN ESTABLISHING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, BY MEANS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH, CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW WORLD., an American shield, thirty-one stars in the form of a star, and a globe (inscribed AMERICA and EUROPE) with a crossed caduceus and torch above and laurel branches below; all within a double border of waves and a linked chain. Julian PE-10b. Attractive chocolate brown surfaces with a few field marks and rim nicks. UNC. Extremely rare, only 125 struck in bronze, some of which did not survive the copper shortage of World War II. Lot also includes an original Harper's Weekly wewspaper, dated 21 August 1858, featuring Field on the cover, and a stock image (photograph) of Field, dated 28 August 1928.

This medal commemorates the second laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable, the first having been laid in 1858 had failed three weeks later and had not been replaced since. After the close of the American Civil War, Field prepared to lay a new and far more durable cable across the Atlantic to reconnect the two continents. In 1866, Field succeeded in his new venture and was congratulated and honored by Congress with a gold medal and went on to win the grand prize at the International Exposition in 1867. Field would later go into the railroad business in the 1870s and 1880s before a series of bad investments caused him to retire modestly in his 70s.