14K Gold Society of the Colonial Dames of

Updated September 10, 2026

America Membership Metal. Inscribed on the reverse side Irva Struthers No.171, 1896. A superb, early example of a historical insignia from The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Minted circa 1896, the obverse features the intricate legacy starburst design and the Latin motto, "Virtutes Maiorum Filiae Conservant". This 14k Gold medal represents the hallmark craftsmanship of luxury silversmiths Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia, who held the exclusive historical contracts for these elite custom-engraved orders. Unlike anonymous examples, this piece boasts incredible provenance. The crisp, elegant hand-engraving on the reverse reads: "Irva Struthers, No. 171, 1896." The Artist: Irva Struthers (1872–1940) was a highly celebrated Gilded Age Philadelphia socialite and miniature portrait painter whose works were famously exhibited at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Her exact membership records are preserved within Official Society Registries, proving her direct 8th-generation colonial descent from Cornelius Empson, the historic early Justice of New Castle County, Delaware.

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