MUTT says "You never know what you fine that has an interesting history"
Shown below is a restrike LifeSaving Medal
Struck by Act of Congress 1899
The original was Gold Medal awarded to Rasmus S. Midgett
Inclosed with the medal was a die cut paper insert with the following story "Near sunrise, August 18, 1899, 3 miles south of Gull Shoal Station on the Outer Banks, Surfman Rasmus S. Midgett found the wreck of the barkentime "Priscilla" breaking up in the raging surf caused by hurricane San Ciriaco. On the stern were 10 men, 3 so weak they could not stand. With no time to return to the station for help, Midgett dashed into the huge breakers to shout instructions to the stranded men. Midgett again ran toward the ship and a crewman climbed down ropes over her side to meet him, dragged him bodily from the onrushing breakers and left him safely on the beach. He made 6 more trips that way. With 3 exhausted feeble men left on board, Midgett braved the surf once again, climbing the ropes, lifting one man to his sholders and made the exhausting trip to shore. Somehow the grueling task was repeated twice more. All 10 men were saved. For this feat, unparalleled in lifesaving annals, Rasmus S. Midgett was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal of Honor, the highest honor which can be given for the saving of life in peacetime."
The Original Lifesaving Medal of 1874 was designed my Anthony C. Paquet and struck at the Philadelphia Mint AE 76 mm
Early bronze re-strikes were produced at the time of the award of the Gold Medal to surfman Midgett. They were offered for sale to the public to further commemorate the heroic deeds of the recipient.
Bronze 51 mm - recently priced at $375.
The medal pictured is a later re-strike. Bronze 51 mm
Surfman Rasmus S. Midgett
