This is a beautiful almost rosewood-colored two-handled trophy mug stamped "Bailey Banks & Biddle / Sterling and Other Metals" on the bottom. The cup itself is made from copper with this rosewood-colored overlay. The inside of the mug is gilded.  On one side of the mug is a raised sterling silver golf bag with clubs. The opposite side is inscribed "Pt. David's Golf Club Handicap Tournament May 16th 1903 Won by Arthur Leslie Wheeler."  Wheeler was a scholar of significant repute, as reported further down.

There are three small dings to side of this mug with the engraving, as can be seen in the images. One of the handles has a small flat spot.  Overall, this 4-inch tall by 6-inch wide rarity still presents wonderfully well.

In the book "Decorative Golf Collectibles" written in 1991 by Shilrley and Jerry Sprung, a single example of this mug is shown and its value estimated at $800-1200.  Of course prices are not what they once were, but this is still an exceedingly rare and fine piece.

The history behind the maker of this trophy mug is especially interesting. Not only was Bailey Banks and Biddle often known as the oldest jewelry chain, (having initially formed in 1832 in Philadelphia, PA), but at the turn of the century they attracted the attention of the US Government and were commissioned to update the Great Seal of the United States. In fact, the official seal we use today is their very design. They also designed and manufactured many military medals: The Congressional Medal of Honor and the very first Purple Hearts being just a few! While their jewelry company might not still be in business today, their legacy truly lives on in the history of our nation.

Arthur Leslie Wheeler, whose name is engraved as the winner of this mug, wrote a number of books, some of which are still offered to this day and can be found on amazon.com.  According to a wiki site, Wheeler "studied at Yale University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1893. In 1894 he was hired as an instructor in Latin and worked on his doctoral thesis, in which he examined the use of tense by the Roman comedy poets Plautus and Terence. In 1900 he received his doctorate and moved to Bryn Mawr College as an associate professor. In 1901 he was appointed full professor and chairman of the Department of Classics.

From 1901 to 1903 Wheeler was a member of the executive committee of the American School of Classical Studies in Rome. In 1923/1924 he was President of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States. In 1925 he moved from Bryn Mawr College to Princeton University, where he became Professor of Latin and in 1932 Chairman of the Department of Latin. In 1927/1928 he was Sather Professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Wheeler was mainly a Latinist. He dealt with the language, grammar, style and poetics of the Roman poets, especially with Catullus and the Elegians.