All Medals

The medal's obverse bears caucasian male facing away, head turned to his left; blockhouse in background. Around, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION; on male figure's back, 120TH / ANNIVERSARY / CONVENTION / CHICAGO / AUGUST 16-20, 2011; signed at lower left, JNF

The reverse bears Native American warrior with tomahawk, facing right; flag with four stars in background.  Around, BATTLE OF FORT DEARBORN - MDCCCXII

The Battle of Fort Dearborn was an engagement between United States troops and Potawatomi Native Americans that occurred on August 15, 1812, near Fort Dearborn in what is now Chicago, Illinois, but was then part of the Illinois Territory.  The battle, which occurred during the War of 1812, immediately followed the evacuation of the fort as ordered by the commander of the United States Army of the Northwest, William Hull. The battle lasted about 15 minutes and resulted in a complete victory for the Native Americans. After the battle, Fort Dearborn was burned down. Some of the soldiers and settlers who had survived and were taken captive were later ransomed.

Following the battle, the federal government became convinced that all Indians had to be removed from the territory and the vicinity of any settlements, as settlers continued to migrate to the area. The fort was rebuilt in 1816.

The medal measures 69.6mm in diameter and was struck by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The mintage was limited to 125 pieces.

References:   ANS 36, Baxter 319, MACo 1918-010, Marqusee 296

The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Deere,facing half right. Around, HE GAVE THE WORLD THE STEEL PLOUGH; in exergue, JOHN DEERE; signed over shoulder at left, KILENYI

The reverse bears steel plough. Around, JOHN DEERE / CENTENNIAL; in center field, 1837 / 1937

John Deere (1804-1886) is the founder of Deere & Company, better known under its brand name John Deere. Deere briefly attended Middlebury College in his homestate of Vermont before becoming the apprentice of Captain Benjamin Lawrence, a successful Middlebury blacksmith.  He started his own shop in 1826 but it failed in 1836.  In 1837 he left Vermont for Grand Detour, Illinois, and started a new shop which became the seed from which the well-known company grew.

His key invention was the steel plow, which solved the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which in turn forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.

John Deere served as President of the company till his death at the age of 82.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. No mintage is reported.

References:   HSoNY 1906

The uniface medal bears profile of Drew as Petruchio, right. Around top, JOHN DREW; to left and right, MAR· - XXII; below, MDCCCLXXIII · MCMXXIII

Farnham was commissioned to create a gold plaque commemorating 50 years of stage work by famed American actor John Drew. The plaque was awarded to Drew at a glittering dinner in New York City on March 25, 1923. Farnham created a 2 1/2 inch companion medal for the 350 dinner guests that evening.

The circular uniface medall was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. The location of the gold plaque is currently unknown.

Many thanks to the creator of sallyjamesfarnham.org for the image and associated information.

References:   MACo 1923-021

The plaquette's obverse bears a moneyer producing a coin by striking a die with a hammer. Behind him, representations of rare medals from the ANS collection. Signed and dated at lower right, (JOV monogram / 83)

The reverse bears three panels, arranged vertically. In top panel, a screw press; in bottom panel, a Janvier pantographic lathe making a reduction of V. D. Brenner's Lincoln cent; in central panel at left, 1858; at right, 1983; in middle, THE AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / SOCIETY / (oak leaf) / "parva ne pereant"

This medal was the 54th official issue of the American Numismatic Society in 1983.  It was chosen by an ad-hoc committee which selected from designs submitted by seven different sculptors. Marcel Jovine won the design competition (and a cash award of $3,500) but his original design was rejected by some Council members due to male nudity. 

Jovine submitted an alternative design that did not include the male nudity and that design was accepted, even though some members quibbled that the moneyer looked like he was going to hit himself rather than the die.

The plaquette was struck in bronze, silver and gold by Stefano Johnson of Italy. The mintage is reported as 2 pieces in gold, 100 in silver, and 500 in bronze.  Originally,only 2 gold pieces were produced but Frank Bass' gold piece was lost and so a third piece was struck.

References:   ANS 54

References:   MACo 1935-012

References:   Cal HM-1996