"Peary Raised This Flag, Who Will Raise the Other?" Commemorative Medal, circa 1909

Summary

In 1909, people across the globe were asking the question, who had reached the North Pole first? Two men claimed the prize: Dr. Frederick Cook and Robert Peary. Both explorers had their supporters and detractors. The famed New York coin dealer Thomas Elder backed Peary and commissioned this token dedicated to the "intrepid hero."

In 1909, people across the globe were asking the question, who had reached the North Pole first? Two men claimed the prize: Dr. Frederick Cook and Robert Peary. Both explorers had their supporters and detractors. The famed New York coin dealer Thomas Elder backed Peary and commissioned this token dedicated to the "intrepid hero."

Artifact

Medal

Date Made

circa 1909

Subject Date

06 April 1909

Creators

Elder, Thomas L. (Thomas Lindsay) 

Place of Creation

United States, New York, New York 

Creator Notes

Commissioned by Thomas L. Elder.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2003.0.27.96

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Aluminum

Dimensions

Diameter: 1.5 in

Inscriptions

PEARY RAISED THIS FLAG / WHO WILL RAISE THE OTHER? [obverse] AT THE AGE OF 53 / ROBERT E. PEARY / COMMANDER U.S.N. / A NATIVE OF CRESSON, PENNSYLVANIA / AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS / FIRST SUCCEEDED / IN PLANTING THE STARS AND STRIPES AT / THE NORTH POLE / APRIL SIXTH / 1909 / THE FIRST MEDAL TO THIS INTREPID HERO / DEDICATED BY THOMAS L. ELDER / NUMISMATIST / 32 EAST TWENTY THIRD ST. / NEW YORK. [reverse]

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More