NEW YORK CLASSICAL CLUB MEDAL
bronze NYCC medal--front bronze NYCC medal--back
The medals in these photographs date from the 1940’s. They are made of heavy metal, about 1½" in diameter, and were accompanied by a card describing the design: “The coin which served as the model for the medal of the New York Classical Club is a stater of the city of Thurii, a Greek colony in Southern Italy, founded in 443 not far from the ruins of Sybaris. The obverse of this coin is occupied by a head of Athena, a choice probably dictated by the circumstance that Thurii was in a large measure founded by colonists from Athens. The wreathed and crested helmet is of the type associated with early issues of the city, and the coin was most probably struck between 425 and 400 B.C.”
This medal design was adopted by the Club in 1931. Much like an ancient coin, the die was hand engraved in the exact size intended for the medal; the medal was then struck by the Medallic Art Company. At that time, silver medals were given to each student graduating from high school with four years of Latin, and bronze medals were given to graduates with three years of Latin. The cost of these medals was defrayed by a fund established by Professor Charles Knapp of Columbia University. The Club no longer distributes free medals, but Knapp Medals and Certificates of Merit can still be purchased through the Club's Secretary-Treasurer.
silver NYCC medal--front silver NYCC medal--back


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