HAYM SALOMON AND GEORGE WASHINGTON MEDAL

In August 1781, the Continental Army trapped Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis in the Virginia coastal town of Yorktown. George Washington and the main army, and Count de Rochambeau with his French army, decided to march from the Hudson Highlands to Yorktown and deliver the final blow. But Washington's war chest was completely empty, as was that of Congress. Without food, uniforms and supplies, Washington's troops were close to mutiny. Washington determined that he needed at least $20,000 to finance the campaign. When he was told that no funds and no credit were available, Washington said: "Send for Haym Salomon." Salomon raised $20,000, and with that money, Washington conducted the Yorktown campaign, which proved to be the final battle of the Revolution.

Those urgent words, along with George Washington riding his favorite horse Nelson, are on the reverse of the new Jewish-American Hall of Fame medal that features an imagined portrait of Haym Salomon, "Financer to the American Revolution," and his signature on the obverse. Between August 1781 and April 1784, Haym Salomon's name appears in Robert Morris's diary at least 75 times, often with entries saying "I sent for Haym Salomon."

In the early 1770's, Haym Salomon left his family in Poland and arrived in New York on the eve of the Revolution. His command of German made him welcome to the Hessian forces, which he served as a supplier of goods. When the British suspected him of spying, Salomon was arrested and confined to prison for a time. Salomon's command of several languages enabled him to serve as a broker to the French officials in Philadelphia. Salomon prospered and was able to be financially helpful to a number of public figures, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

When Haym Salomon died prematurely in January 1785, he held about $650,000 (over 20 million dollars today) largely in depreciated certificates of indebtedness and continental currency — all virtually worthless. The Pennsylvania Packet wrote "He was remarkable for his skill and integrity in his profession and for his generous and humane deportment."

This is the 19th medal created by award-winning sculptor Eugene Daub in the long-running series that was launched in 1969. The large 3 ¼ inch bonded bronze limited edition (99 maximum) high relief Haym Salomon medal is available for a contribution of $195 to the nonprofit Jewish-American Hall of Fame by calling 818-225-1348. Mention The E-Sylum and take a 10% discount.

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