Medals by Organization or Group

The medal's obverse bears standing Athena/Minerva holding shield with one hand and oil lamp on pedestal with the other. In exergue, NATURAE SPECIES RATIOQUE

The medal's reverse bears six portrait busts, each surrounded by a wreath and labeled with last name: LAPHAM / PECKHAM / CHAMBERLIN / HOY / IRVING / ALLEN; below, THE WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF / SCIENCES ARTS AND LETTERS / 1870 - 1920; signed in bottom right corner, LC

The Latin phrase on the obverse translates to "Nature and her law." Athena, or Minerva in her Roman incarnation, is the goddess of wisdom and together with the oil lamp symbolizes the quest for knowledge and understanding.

References:   MACo 1920-003

The medal's obverse bears American Red Cross nurse facing right; Around top, · CROIX · ROUGE · AMERICAINE · EN · FRANCE · ; signed over right shoulder, G PRVD HOMME

The reverse bears nurse kneeling next to wounded soldier on a stretcher, holding him up so he can drink from cup she holds to his lips.  In background, forest, ambulance and field hospital, with red cross flag flying from central mast.  Across, AMERICAN / AMBULANCE.  Signed in exergue, G PRVDHOMME

The circular medal measures 68mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Paris Mint. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears horse-drawn fire wagon racing down a street from right to left. In exergue, FIRE DEPARTMENT / CITY OF NEW YORK

The reverse shows the fire department's coat of arms in oval field, flanked by sprigs of laurel and oak. Around, THE JOHN H. PRENTICE MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR VALOR ·; across, AWARDED TO / WILLIAM M. J. YATES / FIREMAN 1ST GRADE H. & L. CO. No. 4 / 1934; signed at bottom, TIFFANY & CO

This rare medal has been awarded since 1920 for acts of valor by New York City fire fighters. I could not find out much about either Mrs. Prentice or Yates.  Mr. Prentice seems to have been a Brooklyn official. I would love to document Mr. Yates' act of valor that caused him to receive this medal. Maybe someone with connections to the FDNY can help out with information.

My medal has been pretty badly abused. In addition to the gouges, scratches, and nicks, it also had its loop removed.  Normally, the medal is looped and worn on a ribbon.

The circular medal measures 49mm in diameter and was struck in 14kt gold by Tiffany & Co. of New York City.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

The medal's obverse depicts a hospital scene with Japanese doctor taking the pulse of caucasian patient sitting up in bed, Japanese nurse standing by with a bottle of medicine. Around top, Japaense symbols ; signed at left, P LENOIR

The reverse bears crossed French and Japanese flags with Cross on lotus flower in center. Around, HOPITAUX JAPONAIS EN FRANCE, across, 1914 - 1918

The Japanese Red Cross Society had acquired an impressive reputation by providing assistance with numerous disasters world-wide, for example the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

Only a few days after Japan entered World War I on the Allied side, the Japanese Cabinet requested that the Red Cross Society send three groups of doctors and nurses to Europe: one each to Japan’s allies, Britain, France and Russia. The leaders of the Red Cross Society accepted this proposal, readily recognizing the national and international importance of this pioneering act of Asian medical aid to European countries. The three allies quickly accepted the Japanese suggestion.

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of Hunt, facing left, on circular field, ROBERT WOOLSTON HVNT around top. Two femal figures flank medal on both sides.  Signed at bottom right, EMIL FUCHS

The reverse bears steel worker in front of steel works, a Bessemer vessel at left, a steel rolling machine at right. Signed at lower right, EMIL FUCHS

Robert Woolston Hunt (1838-1923) was a metallurgical engineer, inventor, and superintendent in the American steel industry. He was elected President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which shows the high esteem in which his peers held him. During the Civil War he served as commander of Camp Harrisburg in Pennslvania and as a mustering officer for the state of Pennsylvania, undoubtedly putting his administrative talents to good use.

The piece in fine silver that is depicted was awarded to Edwin Chester Wright for a paper titled "The Manufacture and Properties of Killed Bessemer Steel."  By 1945 the medal had only been awarded nine times, so this is probably a very rare medal.

The rectangular plaquette measures 100.9mm x 69.3mm and was struck in silver-plated bronze or fine silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. I assume that it was also struck in bronze but I have not encountered that variant yet.

References:   Baxter 294, MACo 1921-021, Marqusee 189, 53

The obverse bears Art Deco image of Bellerophon with lyre riding winged pegasus above sun. Around, ART DIRECTORS CLUB / INCORPORATED 1920.

The reverse bears painter with palette and brush in center. Around center, AWARDED FOR SPECIAL MERIT. Around edge, laurel wreath with (PM monogram) at bottom.

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.

Louis Pedlar founded the Art Directors' Club of New York in 1920 in response to the uncertain relationship between advertising art and fine art. Pedlar assembled a group of art buyers, art department managers and layout artists to ponder whether advertising art could be judged by the same stringent standards as fine art.

Obviously the answer was "yes" because Paul Manship was asked to create a medal to be used as an award. Awards were given annually in the areas of black-and-white illustration, color illustration, oil painting, and poster art, though not always in all areas.

An article published in Printers' Ink Monthly outlines the process that was used:

"All mediums were given consideration; black-and-white, flat color, oil painting and decorative design. A rigid standard of selection was enforced, and the 300 pictures shown, selected from many thousands submitted, represented the best there is in advertiding design.

Both the organization and the award still exist but the medal was replaced by a modern cube in the 1970's.

The medal measures 54mm (2 1/8in) in diameter and were manufactured by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1921-07, Murtha 139

The medal's obverse bears lightly clothed female figure facing left; to her left, sapling; behind her large disk symbolizing sun. In sun, HE SERVES BEST WHO - SERVES WILLINGLY; signed and dated to right of female figured foot, ADAM / PIETZ / 1921

The reverse bears seal of Kiwanis Club within wreath in centerfield. Around, PENNSYLVANIA (rosette) DISTRICT (rosette) MEDAL (rosette) / AWARDED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE / TO / DONALD GULICK / 1928

Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and is found in more than 80 nations and geographic areas. Membership in Kiwanis and its family of clubs is more than 600,000 members strong. Each year, Kiwanis clubs raise more than US$100 million and report more than 18.5 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children.

This is one of two Kiwanis medals designed by Pietz in 1921.

The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears handle of sword, crossbar horizontal and blade pointing down. Across, THE / FENCERS / CLVB OF / PHILA / D-ELPHIA; signed at bottom, 19 (RTM monogram) 14

The reverse is inscribed to FLORA S. FENDER / 1934 / LEFT AND RIGHT; stamped MEDALLIC / ART CO. / NEW YORK

The looped medal measures 29.1mm in diameter (32.1mm with loop) and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1921-027

The obverse bears bust of Dante Alighieri facing right. Around top, AMERICAN SONS OF ITALY; around bottom, "VINCA · TUA · GUARDIA · I · MOVIMENTI · UMANI!"; to left and right of bust, 1265 - 1321

The reverse bears laurel and oak branches around central field. Around top, SONS OF ITALY GRAND LODGE; around bottom, STATE OF - NEW YORK; in central field, FOR EXCELLENCE IN ITALIAN / TO / ANGELINA GUARDINA

The Order of the Sons of Italy is the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. It was founded on June 22, 1905 by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro to help assimilate Italians into American society during the immigration boom of the early 20th century. In 1928 Dr. Sellaro was given the key to the City of New York in recognition of his social and medical achievements.

1921 was the 600th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death and the medal celebrates both the poet and the Italian language. It was awarded to young students for excellence in Italian. The Italian quote on the obverse is from the 33rd Canto of Dante's Divine Comedy and translates to:

"May your protection curb his mortal passions!"

The medal measures 68.9mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1921-080