Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Miscellaneous Tokens and MedalsLot 394of Mullen, a sprig below, surrounded by the legend: WILLIAMJ. MULLEN. PRISON AGENT. “I WAS IN PRISON, & YECAME UNTO ME: The reverse bears an inscription in 17 lines:COMMISSIONED/ IN 1854/ BY THE GOVERNOR OF/ PENNA:TOVISIT THE/ PRISONS OF THE STATE TO/ AMELIORATETHE CONDITION/ OF THE OPPRESSED./ CHOSEN BY THEPHILADA:/ PRISON SOCIETY AND INSPECTORS/ OF THECOUNTY PRISON &/ APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCILS&/ JUDGES OF THE CRIMINAL COURT/ REAPPOINTED BYALL SUCCEEDING/ GOVERNORS AS WELL AS BY/ THEABOVE NAMED/ AUTHORITIES/ 1862.By 1862 Mullen had long since departed from his watch dialbusiness and moved to Philadelphia. This piece should be moreproperly be classified as a medal – certainly not as a New YorkCity storecard. Mullen was apparently a man for all seasons asevidence by the following thumbnail biography of him“Medical Pioneer, Prison Reformer, Philanthropist, Dentist,Manufacturer. Having made his money manufacturing watchdials, he founded the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in1850; it was the world’s first medical school for women. It becameWoman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1867, and continuestoday as the Drexel University College of Medicine. In addition tobeing the school’s founder, he was its first president. The 1880 USCensus, identifies him as a “Prison Agent.” Before Mullen beganhis work at Philadelphia’s Moyamensing prison, inmates hadlengthy imprisonments without trial because police officials hadtrouble discovering evidence against them. Politically motivatedmagistrates committed individuals for indictable offenses withoutspecifying charges. His work also resulted in the investigation ofthose police who engaged in criminal activity, or violated the rightsof innocent citizens; they were held responsible for their actions.Mullen was a founder and director of the Philadelphia Societyfor the Employment and Instruction of the Poor and its House ofIndustry which gave the poor job training. Mullen estimated thathe rescued 50,000 people from unjust imprisonment.”Lot 395to the right. Legend: THOMAS LEVERTON DONALDSONPH:D EMERITUS. PROF. UNIV. COPL;L: LOND: 1865. Thereverse bears an open wreath enclosing a 7 line inscription:TO/ COMMEMORATE/ LONG & ZEALOUS/ SERVICE/ INPROMOTING/ THE STUDY OF/ ARCHITECTURE. (F-G)The purchaser of the beautiful little piece will be rewarded byfurther investigating the life of William J. Mullen. He was involvedin a multitude of “do-gooder” causes and possessed a giant sizedego which was the subject of sharp comment in his 1880 New YorkTimes obituary. (G)395. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON DONALDSONARCHITECTURAL AWARD MEDAL, (1865) BHM 2832;Eimer1582. J.S. & A.B. Wyon, Sc. 57mm. Edge engraved: A. H.KERSEY ARCHITECTURE “CONSTRUCTION” SECONDYEAR. Housed in a blue plush presentation box gilt stampedwith the One Regent Street crest. Gem Uncirculated with somerainbow toning. Obverse with a high relief bust of DonaldsonLot 396 (reduced)396. JOAN OF ARC PORTRAIT PLAQUE, 1868. Forrer I: 407-10. 245mm (9 ¾”) with integral loop and ring at top, as made.Cast. Bronze. Henri Michel Antoine Chapu, Sc. Choice AboutUncirculated. This is an extremely high relief portrait of the109H