“Stories in Sterling: Four Centuries of Silver in New York”

Before people documented life-changing events in status updates, they marked noteworthy happenings in more tangible media, like precious metals. See 150 examples including items like Peter Stuyvesant’s 17th-century seal and a bulbous trophy awarded to Alan R. Hawley in 1910 upon setting the U.S. record for the longest hot-air balloon flight.