Saved from trash: an 18K gold keepsake of a love story

Greetings to you, Jon! Ihope you can help us w ith this pin that has been in my family for a very long time.

About a week ago my wife was cleaning out our storage space and found this pin in an old wooden match box. She was getting ready to put this pin in the garbage can with the other stuff. I grabbed it and remembered your column. After all these years, I would like to know what it is and what value it has, if any Mark, River Vale

Senior appraiser Jon Felz of R.Z.M.Fine Arts & Antiques Inc. answers yourquestions on fine art,American coins,and great antiques.Send your questions and photos to rzmantique@aol.com

BYJONFELZ R.Z.M. FINE ARTS & ANTIQUES INC.

your medal because I to own one myself. I even have the box that it came in.

You possess a rare and important Ulysses S. Grant Municipal Monument Committee medal, solid 18K gold, produced by Tiffany & Co. in 1897.

Hi, Mark!

Do I have a surprise for you!

How fortunate that you prevented this rare medal from being thrown in the waste. I can easily identify

The medal features the profile of President Grant (1869–1877) over white and blue enamel. The medal is in the shape of Grantʼs monument, on Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street in New York City.

When Grant died, in July 1885, the mayor of New York City sent a telegram to Grantʼs wife,

Borough Offers High Ground For Vacay Parking

Attention flood-prone residents: The Borough of Hillsdale is offering the parking lot between Wendyʼs and Chipotle for you to park your cars if you are planning on going away on vacation. The higher ground should help your vehicle avoid flooding. Notify the police department at (201) 664-4200 so they can note your license plate, should you want to take advantage of this offer.

Julia, offering a burial ground for both. Keep in mind Grant was a general in the United States Army — he was Commanding General of the Union Army, and later briefly the U.S. Secretary of War — and was entitled to be buried in a military cemetery such as West Point.

The problem was, Grantʼs only wish was to be buried with his wife. That meant he could not be buried in a military cemetery as, at that time, women were not permitted to be buried in United States military cemeteries.

Julia wrote to prominent New Yorkers requesting monetary sup- port to build this monument. Contributors were given the medal that you currently possess.

As to the value of this medal, one recently sold at Heritage Auction for $3,000.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of American history with our readers.

R.Z.M.Fine Arts & Antiques Inc.is based at 132 Dexter Ave.,Pearl River,N.Y.Call (845) 735-1313 or visit rzmantiques.com.