All Medals

The medal's obverse bears perspective view of IBM typewriters through the decades. Across, 1933- / 1983 / (IBM logo)

The reverse bears legend, 50 Years of / Typewriter / Excellence

It is probably hard for today's generation to understand how big a business typewriters used to be.  Today, we have general purpose laptops, voice transcription is tantalizingly close for everyday life, and laser printers are an affordable item for most American families.

Before computers, typewriters were at the heart of most business operations and many families owned a private typewriter as well.  IBM was a big player in this market and became dominant when they merged electronics with typewriters.  Before electrical typewriters, each keystroke mechanically translated into a stamp hitting an inkstrip onto the paper.  How hard you hit the key defined how solid the letter's imprint was.  You could also jam a typewriter by hitting two keys simultaneously.  Electric typewriters revolutionized typing by using the keystrokes only as signals for the machine to do do the rest.

Hard to believe how much the world has changed since then...

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

The uniface medal bears bust of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, left. Around top, FERDINAND·VANDEVEER·HAYDEN; under truncation, M·D·C·C·C·LXXXVIII; signed and dated at bottom with (JF monogram ) / MC - MVI

This medal was awarded by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences for recognition of the best publication, exploration, discovery or research in the natural sciences of geology and paleontology. Established in 1888, the bronze medal was accompanied by a cash award of $300 and was awarded every three years.

References:   Marqusee 145

References:   Baxter 216

The medal's obverse bears bust of Washington Allston, facing right.  Around left and right, WASHINGTON - ALLSTON; signed at bottom, P. P. DUGGAN DEL.  C. C. WRIGHT SC.

The reverse bears standing Columbia with American shield, crowning two artists, one holding sculptor's mallet, the other painter's pallet and brushes, on step below. Around top, AMERICAN - ART-UNION; signed and dated on steps, P.P. DUGGAN DEL. / 1847 - C.C. WRIGHT SC.

Washington Allston (1779-1843) was a famous American painter and poet who was born in Waccamaw River, South Carolina. After traveling a lot, he spent most of his later life in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He is buried in Harvard Square. A western suburb of Boston, Allston, is named after him.

This was the first medal in the American Art-Union medal series.

The circular medal measures 64.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze at the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to eBayer Pat who granted me permission to use the images of the silver variant and to Tom Rogahn who pointed them out to me.

References:   AAU 1, Storer 1860, Marqusee 409

The medal's obverse bears two male golf players shaking hands over a hole, globe centered on North America in background. In exergue, CANADA CUP; signed above exergue at feet of right player, R·A·W

The medal's reverse bears wreath with streamers. Around, INTERNATIONAL GOLF TROPHY / TEAM MEMBER / PRESENTED BY / JOHN JAY HOPKINS

John Jay Hopkins (1893-1957) was the founder and first president of General Dynamics.  He created the golf World Cup, which began as the Canada Cup in 1953.  He also donated the trophy for the event.

References:   MACo 1953-031

The obverse bears a U.S. Army Chaplain, wearing steel helmet, kneeling facing right, assisting wounded soldier in drinking from water bottle. At upper edge, 1917 - 1918; signed at left, LAURA G / FRASER / 1920.

The reverse bears cross over U.S. Navy dreadnought, South Carolina class 1908. Around upper edge, AWARDED TO THE CHAPLAINS OF THE / AMERICAN AR-MY and NAVY; across lower half, THE GENERAL WAR-TIME COMMISSION / OF THE - CHURCHES / FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE / CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN / AMERICA.

The medal was awarded by the General Committee of Army and Navy Chaplains to the Protestant Chaplains who served with the Army and Navy of the United States during World War I.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island, and the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   Baxter 326, MACo 1920-022, Marqusee 166

The medal's obverse bears figure of Levi, facing, holding the Torah, fully lit menorah to his left, Aron Kodesh to his right. At upper left, LEVI

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Levi was Jacob's third-born and joined his brother Simeon in the destruction of the city of Shechem. The following quote accompanies this medal in the collector's box:

"Simeon and Levi are a pair; their weapons are tools of lawlessness... I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel."

The tribe of Levi became the scholars that expounded the Torah and rendered decisions through its teachings.

This is the third medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-001, TToI 3

The medal's obverse, designed by Mario Korbel, bears St. George slaying a dragon with Swastika on its wing. Around, ·· SAINT GEORGE ·· / OF ENGLAND; signed under dragon, MK

The reverse, designed by Paul Manship, bears a displayed American Eagle flanked by two stars. Around, · UNITED · WE · STAND · / · AMERICA ·; signed under eagles foot on right, PM

This medal was issued for the British-American Ambulance Corps. A companion piece executed entirely by Korbel combined this obverse with a reverse utilizing a thumbs-up — forward to victory motif.

The circular medal measures 38.5mm in diameter and is holed for supension.

References:   MACo 1941-036-02