Philadelphia Franklin medal
Sir Jacob Epstein (New York 1880 – London 1959)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
Unknown
Materials
Silver
Measurements
40 x 127 x 133 mm
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101244.2
Summary
Case for the Philadelphia Franklin medal, silver with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin in high relief by Epstein, with 'Winston Spencer Churcill' and on the reverse a relief image of Prometheus. Formerly part of the Heirloom Collection.
Full description
Only two examples were struck. Presented to Churchill in January 1956 “as the man who has made the greatest contribution during the past 10 years to international understanding” by Joseph S. Clark, Jr., former Mayor of Philadelphia at Benjamin Franklin House, Craven Street, Strand. A lunch was then held at The Ritz by the Mayor of Westminster. The second example was presented to Mrs F. D. Roosevelt a week later as the equivalent woman. The presentation and Churchill’s speech of thanks was recorded in The Times on 12 Jan. 1956: “I earnestly hope that we have reached the end of misunderstanding and that we shall move fundamentally together towards a world which, though full of difficulties, is not without hope and will not be without hope so long as Britain and America stand together.” The Churchill Archive contains “Speech notes for Churchill's speech (11 January, London), entitled "The Benjamin Franklin Medal", on the value of receiving the award because of Churchill's American blood and because of Franklin's work to preserve unity between the United States and Britain, and on the task of maintaining that unity in the future. Part published: Complete Speeches VIII p 8671.” Lent by Churchill to the 1961 Arts Council Epstein Memorial Exhibition. [Also see Poor Richard Club and Pilgrims of the United States Medallion]
Makers and roles
Sir Jacob Epstein (New York 1880 – London 1959), artist