When the Guardians of the City of San Francisco approached us to make a pin to commemorate one of the city's best known historical figures and landmarks, we knew we had to create something special.
Our Lillie Hitchcock Coit pin was sculpted, molded, and 3D cast in silver. The reverse side has a custom back stamp that reads: "Firebelle Lil 175th Birthday August 23rd, 2018".
Lillie Coit is permanently associated with Coit Tower, whose construction her estate funded, and with San Francisco’s early volunteer fire brigade, which she championed.
Lillie was considered colorful and eccentric - gambling, smoking cigars, and wearing trousers before it was socially acceptable for women to do so.
In October 1863, Lillie became the first and only woman in the United States to belong to a volunteer fire company.
Coit left one-third of her estate to the City of San Francisco "to be expended in an appropriate manner for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city which I have always loved". The city used this bequest to build Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill from 1932-1933.
Limited Edition
1.25 inches
Two clutches on the back for added security and to prevent spinning