To Cyrus W. Field from the American Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool, on the Laying of the Atlantic Cable, 1866

Art Historical Context

This elegant copper-gilt medal was created in 1866 by British medallists Joseph Shepherd Wyon and Alfred Benjamin Wyon to honor American entrepreneur Cyrus W. Field. Commissioned by the American Chamber of in Liverpool, it commemorates the successful laying of the transatlantic telegraph cable, a landmark achievement that linked Europe and North America for the first time. The cable’s completion dramatically reduced communication times from weeks to minutes, transforming global trade, diplomacy, and news reporting. Measuring just three inches across, the medal exemplifies the Wyon family’s refined technique in striking commemorative pieces. Its gilt surface would have gleamed like gold, while the inclusion of birds among its designs likely symbolizes the swift transmission of messages across the ocean. Such medals served both as personal tributes and as lasting records of technological progress during the Victorian era. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum by Field himself in 1892, the work remains a tangible reminder of one of the nineteenth century’s greatest engineering feats and the international collaboration that made it possible.

About the Artist

Joseph Shepherd Wyon|Alfred Benjamin Wyon · 1836–1873

British, London 1836–1873 Winchester|British