We’re well into the first third of 2026. I recall what should have been a similar time 50 years ago at the onset of the 1976 Bicentennial. For those not alive or aware then, it was epic. Preparations were rife for celebrations and collectibles aplenty being produced for the nation’s then-200th birthday.
I’d like to believe the current 250th would rate the same level of excitement. Not yet. I suppose it’s a wait-and-see. In national magazines and newspapers, I’ve seen a few commemorative trinkets. The US Mint and Postal Service have also planned some tribute issues. Outside of those, I can’t say there’s much momentum for the milestone....
Impressive collectibles that overlap into this year’s semiquincentennial might include the series of presidential medals made by the US Mint. Struck from solid silver, the one-ounce medals feature portraits of presidents beginning with George Washington, clearly the most essential colonial military leader at the time of the creation of the United States.
With silver still hovering at record levels, the US Mint has been forced to continually increase the selling price to cover their costs and future increases. As of this writing, each medal costs $164. That’s roughly double the price for a metal that’s currently valued at around $85. Then again, there’s no telling where the value of silver may go in the near future.
Of the medals, the first few are the most relevant for our current anniversary. Those honoring Washington; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison and other early founding fathers are still available and can be found online at: www.USMint.gov.Those are the luminaries we’ve learned of as kids in classrooms. Naturally, the revolution was made up of countless individuals, mostly poor, long-forgotten foot soldiers, many of whom did not survive to see the new nation come to fruition.
The vast majority of those who enlisted in the Continental Army or a local militia, most often formed in small towns and communities, had to leave their farms and livelihoods to fight. Given that the emerging and hopeful nation had little resources and no real wealth, how would they get paid? For that, enter a man you’ve never heard of but was pivotal in the winning of the war – Haym Salomon.
Salomon was a Jew living in New York City. He had emigrated to the states from Poland on the eve of the Revolution. Considering where he was from, being fluent in German made him accepted by our Hessian troop allies to which he supplied trade goods. In the colonies, Salomon prospered and was able to finance the cause going through public figures such as Jefferson and Madison.
By 1781, the war was beginning to turn in favor of the colonies. The Continental Army had trapped British General Cornwallis at Yorktown. It was time for Washington’s army and Count de Rochambeau with his French forces to potentially deliver a final blow and win the war. However, as usual, Washington was out of money. So was the US Congress. Lacking food, replacement uniforms and supplies, Washington’s troops were close to mutiny.
Washington needed at least $20,000 (about $1 million in today’s money) to finance the deciding campaign. When told no funds or credit were available, Washington reportedly said his oft spoken words: “Send for Haym Salomon.” Almost immediately, Salomon raised the $20,000. With those funds for the troops and supplies Washington won Yorktown, the decisive battle of the Revolution.
In the diary of founding father and fellow financier Robert Morris, Haym Salomon’s name appears at least 75 times. Most often, Morris includes the words, "I sent for Haym Salomon." Though it may sound derogatorily stereotypical, Salomon had become renowned as one of the wisest moneymakers in the colonies. He was keenly adept at growing his wealth and supplying support.
At the time, there were precious few Jews in the colonies. Some put their numbers at less than 2,000 in all of New England worshipping at just five synagogues. Clearly, Salomon was in the minority. It didn’t matter to him, the colonists or his cause. He was a patriot.
When he died in 1785, it’s reported Salomon’s wealth was $650,000 held primarily in worthless continental currency.
For the 250th anniversary, on a bronze sculpted medal created for the Jewish-American Hall of Fame are the words, “Send For Haym Salomon,” with an image of George Washington on horseback. On the other side is an imagined portrait of Salomon and his signature. While the medal may not be as gleaming or as inherently valuable as one of silver, surely the subject matter is just as treasured if not more so.
The large 3-1/4-inch medal is limited to just 99 pieces. It is being sold for a contribution of $195 to the nonprofit Jewish-American Hall of Fame. For more information or to order phone: 818-225-1348.
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