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The Ridgway Medal
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1 University of Virginia, Jefferson Society


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in American School Medals (currently in collection)
Made in Baltimore, Maryland, 1857. Gold, Completely hand engraved. Diameter 47.9mm, 46.2 grams, with ring for suspension. Engraved by Canfield, Baltimore (signed on edge: Made by Canfield, Bro. & Co. Baltimore ). Obverse: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA JUNE 27, 1857 around a very finely engraved view of the academic quadrangle designed by Thomas Jefferson, within an oval cartouche; above is the device from the Virginia state seal of Liberty crushing the tyrant under foot; below is the motto "Haec olim meminisse juvabit." (see below); copied from an early 19th century engraving by James W. Steel, Philadelphia. Reverse: PRESENTED by the JEFFERSON SOCIETY TO Thomas C. Nelson as their BEST DEBATER Session 1856-7, within an open laurel wreath, and Greek letters Phi Pi Theta below (the intials of the Society motto, which is "freindship, fatherland, divinity" in English).

In the context of the obverse design of this medal, the motto "Haec olim meminisse juvabit" is a fantastic joke, which a young man  of that day who was highly educated in the classics would have understood immediately.  The quotation as shown on the medal is literally translated as "In the future it will be pleasant to remember these things" and, placed under a view of the main quadrangle of the campus, seems highly sentimental.  The quotation is taken from Book 1, line 203 of Virgil's Aeneid, which is one of the most famous -- if not the most famous -- quotation in ancient Latin.  The entire line, however is "Forsan haec olim meminisse juvabit" and is said by Aeneas to his men just after they are shipwrecked, expecting to die and complaining to thier leader.  This full line is translated "Perhaps some day it will be pleasant to remember even this!" and when referring to their time at the college as students, reflects a somewhat different sentiment!

Item record created Oct. 6, 2008.
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item record in VRA Core 4.0

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