The Great Seal of the District of Columbia 1871

[constanius]

 

It is well worth fully enlarging the picture just to look at the fine engraving of the Capitol.

 

If this looks familiar to you, it is, I purchased it from Blackhawk who posted it earlier regarding the doubling, thank you Blackhawk for such quick service it arrived today. Only just found out what it is by googling the motto and date on the ribbon. Had tried when it was first posted, used everything but the motto no luck, just shows sometimes you have to try and try again.

 

Washington, District of Columbia Great Seal

 

 

The first act passed by the District's first legislative assembly on August 3, 1871, created the corporate seal of the District of Columbia, which includes this motto "Justitia Omnibus" which has been translated as: "Justice to all."

 

Justice (who is a woman) is shown on the seal hanging a wreath on a statue of George Washington In the background is the United States Capitol on the right; on the left, a train steams across a viaduct under a rising sun.

 

The Citizens Executive Commitee Medal could be a lead trial-strike that has been bronzed or an electrotype lead filled (have to work on that) either way it commemorates their design (or aproval of) in 1871 of the Great Seal of the District of Columbia. An historic medal wether it was ever produced or not.

 

Edited. It is possible that this is a lead impression taken from the actual 1st seal, which was subsequently 'bronzed'. That would mean the 1st seal would have had 'citizens executive committee' on it, which was dropped from later seals and be approximately 35mm. Anyone in DC. who has seen a wax impression from the 1st seal, or even a picture of the first seal etc please post.

 

Some background,

1789: The United States Constitution is ratified. It includes language about creation of a “District” but does not

imply where that area will be.

1791: Two counties – one in Maryland, one in Virginia – are ceded, or given, to the Federal government to create a

distinct territory, the District of Columbia. At this time, people living in these areas are still voting in Maryland and

Virginia elections.

1801: Washington, DC becomes the official capital of the United States and citizens living in the District are no

longer allowed to vote in elections

 

President Washington in 1791 selected the area that is now the District of Columbia from the land ceded by Maryland (private landowners whose property fell within this area were compensated by a payment of £25 per acre); that ceded by Virginia was not used for the capital and was returned to Virginia in 1846.