A Vigilante Medal.

Conditioned as we are to avoid "taking the law into our own hands", the word vigilante has acquired rather negative connotations. But it wasn't always that way; sometimes do-it-yourself law enforcement was extremely necessary, with survival itself at stake.

Police forces, as such, are rather recent inventions - it was only in the 1830s, for instance, that the famous "Bobbies" of London were established, the nickname a reference to the minister in charge, Sir Robert Peel. Until that time, law enforcement might be by the local soldiery; or one or two citizens taking turn as "the watch"; or even gangs of "muscle" hired (or imposed) on contract. The fact was, the ordinary citizen might be in more danger from those who were supposed to protect him than from the criminals themselves.

During the California Gold Rush, San Francisco was a roaring, wide-open town, with away more problems than their law enforcement agency could cope with. Down on the waterfront was the "Barbary Coast", chock-a-block with saloons, brothels, gambling halls and opium dens while "up on the hill", the more respectable folk had their homes.

It was more or less to guard the latter that "Committees of Vigilance" were set up - sort of Neighbourhood Watch carrying heat. To identify its members, pocket pieces or medallions were struck, usually with a place left on the design for the bearer's name to be engraved. This one reads:-

Obv: Justice standing with sword and scales. BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. FIAT JUSTITIA RUAT with SAN FRANCISCO / CALIFORNIA below.

Rev: Eye of Vigilance with radiating rays. COMMITTEE OF VIGILANCE around. Around the rim: ORGANIZED 9 TH JUNE 1851 . REORGANIZED 14 TH MAY 1856. Blank tablet below for bearer's name to be engraved.

Silver. 37mm, weighs 406 grains.

Wayne Jacobs is a numismatic expert. Currently secretary and editor of the "Mid-Island Coin Club Numismatic Journal"of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island , British Columbia, he is the award winning author of numerous articles. The MICC journal are hosted here: MICC webpages Copyright 2006 Wayne Jacobs. This article may be reprinted freely for non commercial purpose only if the resource box is left intact, linking back to us.