Nat Inst of Social Services Silver Medal Awarded to Samuel F. Pryor Jr Service with the US Treasury

What we have here is a Rare National Institute of Social Services Siver (999 Pure) Table Medal awarded on 19 November 1964 to Samuel F. Pryor, Jr., who was at the time working in an Intelligence and Diplomatic capacity for the US Treasury Department. 

The obverse of the medal shows Liberty in flowing gown holding a laurel branch in one hand, and laurel wreathes in the other, which drape over a large shield reading: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

The reverse of the medal has a torch of knowledge in the middle, with DIGNUS HONORE at center. Around the rim the medal reads: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SERVICES, while a panel at center bottom is engraved with the name of the recipient: SAMUEL F. PRYOR. Below this panel is the designing artist's name: LAURA GARDIN, FECIT.

The National Institute of Social Sciences (NISS) is one of the oldest honorary societies in the United States. The stated mission of NISS is to promote the study of the social sciences, to support social science research and discussion, and to honor individuals who have rendered distinguished service to humanity.

The National Institute of Social Services is headquartered in New York City.

The National Institute of Social Sciences traces its origins to the American Social Science Association, or ASSA, which was established in 1865 in Boston as the American Association for the Promotion of Social Science. The ASSA was chartered by an act of the 56th Congress on January 28, 1899. In 1912, the ASSA established NISS as a distinct department. In 1926, when the ASSA dissolved, an act of Congress transferred its congressional charter to the NISS "for the furtherance of the interests of social science." Devoted to the public welfare, it has inspired the establishment of such organizations as the National Prison Reform Association, the National Conference of Charities, and the American Health Association.

The NISS original constitution states the organization's goal "to promote the study of Social Science and to reward distinguished services rendered to humanity, either by election to the National Institute, or by the bestowal of medals or other insignia."

In 1913 the NISS bestowed its first Gold Medals in recognition of significant contributions to humanity. The first recipients were William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States, Archer M. Huntington, founder of the Hispanic Society of America, and Samuel L. Parrish, founder of the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY. Each year since 1913, (except for 1922), the organization has presented Gold Medals to distinguished individuals.

The Institute's Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Bronze Medal, was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, a noted sculptor with a specialty in medals.

While one must assume that the Institute's Silver medal must gave been given out in a larger quantity than the Gold medals, while we have found records of the Gold medal's sales, and even a couple of the Bronze ones, we can find no examples of the Silver medal having been sold.