1970 Silver Edwin Thomas Booth - Hall of Fame For Great Americans Medal at NYU

1970 Silver Edwin Thomas Booth Hall of Fame For Great Americans Medal at New York University

This is a silver medal made of .999 fine silver and is part of a collection arranged by the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University. The collection consists of 96 pieces in its entirety created and designed by 42 sculptors.  The obverse depicts the head bust of Edwin Thomas Booth, a famous American actor who toured the states and Europe performing Shakespearean plays, and founded Booth's Theater in New York. He is also shadowed by his relationship to brother John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. The relief of the bust is surrounded by his name and the years of birth and death "1833" and "1893".

The reverse relief is of Booth dressed as Hamlet with the words " * The Hall Of Fame For Great Americans *  At New York University"  surrounding the edges of the coin. on both sides of the relief of Booth's head are the words "To Be Or Not To Be" , the famous words used in the Shakespeare's play of Hamlet..Engraved on the outer rim of the medal is a faded " Made Co.. NY" and ".999 Silver" as well as a serial number 832. 

To honor these famous Americans, in 1962 a coalition was formed to create, sponsor and market these fine art medals. The coalition was formed of New York University, the owner of the Hall of Fame; the National Sculpture Society, which in turn created their own art committee; the Medallic Art Company. which manufactured the medals. The Coin and Currency Institute marketed the medals and over the next 13 years 42 sculptors contributed their talents to the 96 different designs.