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Phi Beta Kappa Medal

Dateca. 1790

OriginAmerica, Connecticut or New Hampshire (probably)

MediumSilver alloys

Dimensions3/4" x 13/16"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1984-282

DescriptionSquare silver medal with loop and [later] suspension ring. Engraved on the obverse with the Greek initials for Phi Beta Kappa and an index finger pointing to three stars representing friendship, morality, and literature. Engraved on the reverse with “SP” in foliate script over the script date “December 5 / 1776”. The initials stand for Societas Philosophiae, and the date refers to the founding of the Alpha chapter at William and Mary.

Label TextAt the first meeting of the Societas Philosophiae (or Phi Beta Kappa Society) at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg on December 5, 1776, the founders agreed on a “square silver medal...for the better establishment and sanctitude of our unanimity.” The medals were probably worn by members around their necks on ribbons. By 1779, the Williamsburg members had decided to establish chapters at other institutions, including Yale in 1780 and Harvard in 1781. When New England colleges began chapters of the society, their members employed local silversmiths to copy the original College of William and Mary medal. There are variations in size, engraving style, or number of stars, but all follow the same basic pattern. During the nineteenth century, the medals became watch keys through the addition of a stem for winding a pocket watch. By 1798, the Yale medal had acquired a pivoting ring on its top edge, and by 1806 the medal was being made of gold instead of silver. Soon thereafter gold became the preferred metal for most Phi Beta Kappa medals. Based on the style of its engraving, this medal probably was made for an initiate of either Yale, or because of its smaller size (13/16” rather than 1” square), Dartmouth, whose chapter was established in 1787.
InscribedEngraved on the obverse with the Greek initials for Phi Beta Kappa and an index finger pointing to three stars representing “friendship,” “morality,” and “literature.”

Engraved on the reverse with “SP” in foliate script over the script date “December 5 / 1776”. The initials stand for Societas Philosophiae, and the date refers to the founding of the Alpha chapter at William and Mary.