ROYAL HAWAIIAN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SILVER AWARD MEDAL

ROYAL HAWAIIAN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY — ESTABLISHED A.D. 1850.  Crowned view of Hawaiian agricultural products (including a barrel marked sugar) in the foreground; the distance depicting ships before a rising sun, the whole enclosed in a wreath, reverse, PREMIUM FOR THE BEST EXHIBITED, around; engraved inscription within ornamental surround; Native Bull/TO/C.G.Hopkins.  (M-R 2RM-4; Julian AM-24).  Silver; 52.39 mm; 82.7 gms.  The edges beaten to raise the rim on both obverse and reverse.  About Extremely Fine, the reverse appears to have been buffed.  Although damaged, still visually appealing and scarce.

Founded by influential businessmen in 1850, the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society was established to encourage the development of local growers.  Engraved by Francis N. Mitchell, the medal was produced by the United States Mint in extremely small numbers (only sixteen were struck in 1857, and apparently none in the preceding year and a half).  Although it enjoyed Royal support, the Society all but disbanded after 1857.