Cyrus Griffin Medallion
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Cyrus Griffin Medallion
Shipping is $7.00 Priority Mail for One to Twenty Medallions - Free for orders
over Twenty
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© Stanley L. Klos has a worldwide copyright on the artwork in these Medallions not legal tender.
Medallion Obverse: Engraving of Cyrus Griffin of Virginia was elected President of the United States, in Congress Assembled January 22, 1788 serving until January 21, 1789. Cyrus Griffin was born in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia in 1749 and died in Yorktown, Virginia on December 14th, 1810. Cyrus Griffin of Virginia was elected President of the United States, in Congress Assembled January 22, 1788 serving until January 21, 1789. Cyrus Griffin was born in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia in 1749 and died in Yorktown, Virginia on December 14th, 1810 - for more information visit www.cyrusgriffin.com.
Born in a Tavern and ending in a
Tavern The United States Founding governments
occupied 11 different capitol buildings experienced 15 years of challenges that
included war,
hyper-inflation, a failed constitution, judicial corruption, armed citizen and
U.S. Army rebellion.
Medallion Reverse: Fraunces Tavern, New York City was the Capitol of the United States of America from November 1788 until March 1789. This tavern was not a stranger to great events in U.S. History as in 1783 Commander-in-Chief George Washington bade farewell to his troops.
The medallion's reverse celebrates the ratification of the Constitution of 1787 in 1788. Unlike the Constitution of 1777 only 4/5ths or nine states were required to ratify the Constitution of 1787. President Griffin had hoped his home state, Virginia, would be the ninth to ratify as its summer convention was convening and ratification seemed imminent.. New Hampshire was also meeting and they reported their ratification to President Griffin on July 2, 1788 making the ”Plan for the New Federal Government" the new constitution for the United States of America.
President's Griffin’s social status as President of the United States in New York was second to none under the Articles of Confederation. His office, English education, and marriage to nobility solidified his status as the pinnacle in confederation society among the nation's leaders. Lady Christina’s state events held for foreign dignitaries were legendary.
After ratification, President Griffin and Secretary Charles Thomson were relegated to conclude the Constitution of 1777’s business in a New York tavern as City Hall was being renovated for the new federal government forming under the Constitution of 1787. The Presidency began under the Articles of Association along with the Continental Congress in a Philadelphia tavern in 1774, evolved and moved to eight different capitol cities until its finally fading away in Fraunces Tavern in New York City where the Commander-in-Chief, George Washington also bade farewell to his troops just before his resignation in 1783. Under the new Constitution of 1787 the United States government would never again convene in a tavern. In 1789 the era of the confederation of the founding ended where it began, in an 18th Century city tavern.
This Presidential installation Broadside published by the new Federal Government marked the beginning of a Presidency and political system under the Constitution of 1787:
Broadside Announcing Ceremonial for Washington's Inauguration, 29 April 1789
THE Committees of both Houses of Congress, appointed to take order for conducting the ceremonial of the formal reception, &c. of the President of the United Stares, on Thursday next, have agreed to the following order thereon, viz.
That General Webb, Colonel Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel Fish, Lieut. Col. Franks, Major L'Enfant, Major Bleecker, and Mr. John R. Livingston, be requested to serve as Assistants on the occasion.
That a chair he placed in the Senate-Chamber for the President of the United Stares. That a chair be placed in the Senate-Chamber for the Vice-President, to the right of the President’s chair; and that the Senators take their seats on that side of the chamber on which the Vice-President’s chair shall be placed. That a chair be placed in the Senate-Chamber for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the left of the President’s chair—and that the Representatives take their seats on that side of the chamber on which the Speaker’s chair shall be placed.
That seats be provided in the Senate-Chamber sufficient to accommodate the late President of the United States in Congress Assembled [Cyrus Griffin of Virginia], the Governor of the Western territory [Arthur St Clair], the five persons being the heads of the three great departments [Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay, Secretary of War Henry Knox, Commissioners of the Treasury Arthur Lee, Walter Livingston, and Samuel Osgood], the Minister Plenipotentiary of France [Eleanor Francois Elie, Cpmte de Moustier], the Encargado de negocios of Spain [Don Diego de Gardoqui], the Chaplains of Congress [Bishop Samuel Provoost. Dr. William Liin], the persons in the suite of the President:42 and also to accommodate the following Public Officers of the State, viz. The Governor [George Clinton], the Lieutenant-Governor [Pierre Van Cortlandt], the Chancellor [Robert R. Livingston], the Chief Justice [Richard Morris], and other Judges of the Supreme Court [Robert Yates, Jon Sloss Hobart], and the Mayor of the city [James Duane]. That one of the Assistants wait on these gentlemen, and inform them that seats are provided for their accommodation, and also to signify to them that no precedence of seats is intended, and that no salutation is expected from them on their entrance into, or their departure from the Senate-Chamber.
That the members of both Houses assemble in their respective Chambers precisely at twelve o’clock, and that the Representatives preceded by the Speaker, and attended by their Clerk, and other Officers proceed to the Senate-Chamber, there to be received by the Vice-President and Senators rising.
That the Committees attend the President from his residence to the Senate-Chamber, and that he be there received by the Vice-President, the Senators and Representatives rising, and be by the Vice-President conducted to his chair.
That after the President shall be seated in his Chair and the Vice-President, Senators and Representatives shall be again seated, the Vice-President shall announce to the President that the members of both Houses will attend him to be present at his taking the Oath of Office required by the Constitution. To the end that the Oath of Office may be administered to the President in the most public manner, and that the greatest number of the people of the United States and without distinction, may be witnesses to the solemnity, that therefore the Oath be administered in the outer Gallery adjoining to the Senate Chamber.
That when the President shall proceed to the gallery to take the Oath, he be attended by the Vice-President, and be followed by the Chancellor of the State, and pass through the door on the right, and the Representatives, preceded by the Speaker, pass through the door on the left, and such of the persons who shall have been admitted into the Senate-Chamber, and may be desirous to go into the gallery, are then also to pass through the door on the right. That when the President shall have taken the Oath, and returned into the Senate-Chamber, attended by the Vice-President, and shall be seated in his chair, that the Senators and the Representatives also return into the Senate-Chamber, and that the Vice-President and they resume their respective seats.
Both Houses having resolved to accompany the President after he shall have taken the Oath, to St. Paul’s Chapel, to hear divine service, to be performed by the Chaplain of Congress, that the following order of procession be observed, viz. The door-keeper [Gifford Dalley] and messenger [‘Ihomas Claxton] of the House of Representatives. The Clerk of the House [John Beckley]. The Representatives. The Speaker. The President, with the Vice-President at his left hand. The Senators. The Secretary of the Senate [Samuel A. Otis]. The door-keeper [James Mathews] and messenger [Cornelius Maxwell] of the Senate.
That a Pew be reserved for the President—Vice-President—Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Committees; and that pews be also reserved sufficient for the reception of the Senators and Representatives.
That after divine service shall be performed, the President be received at the door of the Church, by the Committees, and by them attended in carriages to his residence.
That it be intrusted to the Assistants to take proper precautions for keeping the avenues to the Hall open, and that for that purpose, they wait on his Excellency the Governor of this State, and in the name of the Committees request his aid, by an order or recommendation to the Civil Officers, or militia of the city, to attend and serve on the occasion, as he shall judge most proper.
