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Gold Freedom Boxes
Invoking a European practice dating as early as the Renaissance, the Common Council of New York City occasionally honored distinguished visitors and heroes by bestowing on them the "Freedom of the City." The recipients of this tremendous honor -- only a few in each generation -- received a personalized certificate and often a costly and richly engraved gold box.
The gold box displayed here features New York City's official seal on the lid as well as the name of the recipient, Daniel T. Patterson. American gold freedom boxes are exceedingly rare and in this case, testify to one man's personal efforts on behalf of the nation. |