THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
VOL. VIII. No. 8.
AUGUST, 1864.

Notes and Queries.
NOTES.

THE TRISTRAM COFFIN MEDAL.- Several years ago, I, with some other little boys, was whiling away a summer afternoon, in the delightful employment of digging holes in my father's door-yard and filling them with water, which holes thus filled wedignified with the name of "wells." While engaged in excavating a "well" which was to be a grand affair, and which I had already sunk to the depth of a foot or more, I struck upon something smooth and glistening, and soon brought up deprofundis a medal of large size which was regarded by us all as an object of great curiosity, and led to many childish speculations as to the manner in which it came to be buried in this locality. Well-digging ceased to interest us from thatmoment, and we forthwith became a company of money-diggers. Although our further efforts were unsuccessful, yet the appearance of the door-yard when we ceased our operations was more suggestive of a ploughed field than of a well kept grass-plot. Myrecollection of the appearance of this medal, which I have not seen for twenty five years, is this.

On the obverse was the effigy of a man in the dress of a cavalier. The hat on his head was adorned with a feather; the wrists were surrounded with ruffles; the trousers were met at the knee by long stockings; and the feet were enclosed in buckledshoes. The legend was in these words:- "Tristram Coffin, the first of the race that settled in America." On the reverse were two hands clasped, the wrists ending in ruffles, but the legend if there was any I do not remember. In size the medal waslarger than a crown piece, and was struck either in silver, tin or white medal.

At that time a young man by the name of Coffin was a clerk in my father's office, and to him, on my father's suggestion, I gave the medal. Since then I have often made inquiries as to the origin and history of this memorial piece, but have neveryet seen a satisfactory account of it. That Tristram Coffin was the first of his race that settled in America, there can be no doubt. In the second volume of the New England Genealogical Register may be found statements respecting his history, andin Dr. F. B. Hough's compilation of "Papers relating to the island of Nantucket," a copy of his signature is given, several of his letters are presented, and his importance as one of ten owners of Martha's Vineyard and as a local magistrate isrecorded. If my friend who has the piece which rewarded my early efforts in well-digging, or if any of your readers can throw light on this subject, the information will afford me much pleasure.

B.H.H.
Troy, May 25, 1864.

To read the Heritage lot description, see:
(1826) Tristram Coffin Medal, Betts-533, Cast....(https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/-1826-tristram-coffin-medal-betts-533-cast/a/1235-98510.s)

John Sallay writes:

John Kraljevich writes:

John Adams writes:

To read the LaRivierre Collection collection lot descriptions, see the Newman Numismatic Portal (page 211-212):
The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere: Part II (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=4&AuctionId=524060)

For more information on Tristram Coffin, see:
Tristram Coffin (settler) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristram_Coffin_(settler))
TRISTRAMS TREASURES SALLY COFFIN- (https://www.casadellibro.com/libro-tristrams-treasures/9781635258646/7094190)