Commemorative silver Coin-shaped medallion in Recognition of the 100th Anniversary of Sgt. Henry Johnson’s Act of Valor in World War I

In March 2018, Ferris Coin Co. announced a nation-wide competition to design a 1 ozt. 39 mm silver round commemorative medal honoring African American World War I hero Sgt. Henry Johnson to be struck on the 100th anniversary of his May 15, 1917 act of valor in the Forest of Argonne, France. The contest attracted submissions from across the U.S., including work by several artists whose designs appear on many coins produced by the U.S. Mint.

Entries were evaluated by an expert jury composed of esteemed professional artists and a representative of the 369th Veteran's Association. No identifying information was included in the submission materials presented to the jury. Though the jury was free to select any combination of obverse and reverse designs by any artists, the panel selected a single artist's designs fro both sides. They felt that artist Chris Costello best captured the spirit of Sgt. Henry Johnson's self-less sacrifice for his country and for his fellow soldiers, and that his message best reflected the spirit of the annual Henry Johnson Day and Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service, awarded by the City of Albany, N.Y. in partnership with the 369th Veteran's Association Inc. Albany District. Ferris Coin Co. donated silver medals to the 369th for the annual award.

About the Artist

In Service to Community

HENRY JOHNSON DAY & HENRY JOHNSON DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

On June 5, 2018, the City of Albany, N.Y. celebrated its second annual Henry Johnson Day, marked by a ceremony that included  bestowing of the Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service. The date was selected because it is the date upon which Johnson enlisted.

The new Henry Johnson coin-shaped medal was granted as part of the award. Through the Distinguished Community Service Award contest, members of the community nominate their peers who have made outstanding contributions to the community in the areas of arts and history, social justice, education, or community organizing. The purpose of the award is to recognize an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty but has not received formal recognition or public thanks for their actions.

Ferris Coin Co. donated 10 silver medals to be presented to the winners of the Henry Johnson Award for the next decade. This year’s winner, the first to receive a medal, was Jahkeen Hoke. (During the June 27, 2018 premiere James Dandles, the first winner of the Henry Johnson Award, was presented with a Sgt. Henry Johnson medal with the serial number 369. The number is significant as both Johnson and Dandles served in the 369th Regiment).

The remaining medals are available to the public for $29.95 exclusively online and at Ferris Coin Co., located at 199 Wolf Road in Albany. Ferris Coin Co. is proud to donate $2 from each sale of the medal to the 369th Veterans Association Albany District to continue their support of the annual Henry Johnson Award.

Our Panel of Distinguished Judges

Ferris Coin Co. is grateful to our expert jury who evaluated nearly five dozen contest design entries to select the winning designs for the Sgt. Henry Johnson silver commemorative medal.

Panelists

• Mark Schaming Director, New York State Museum

• James Dandles, Retired President of the 369th Veterans Association Albany District

• Kenneth Ragsdale, Multi-media Artist

• Jamel Mosely, Multi-media Artist

• Vincent Forte, Jr., Sculptor & Fine Art Oil Painter

Advisors

• Dennis Gaffney,Communications Coordinator
  City of Albany
• Jessica Neidl, Editor, New York State Museum