All Medals

The medal's obverse bears bust of Robert Fletcher, facing. Around top, ROBERT FLETCHER AWARD; below bust, DIRECTOR / THAYER SCHOOL OF / ENGINEERING / 1871 - 1918; around bottom, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE; signed under truncation, JOHN CALABRO / SC.

The medal's reverse bears wreath with inscribed FOR / DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / AND / SERVICE

Robert Fletcher (1847-1936) was a larger than life figure at Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering.  He was the engineering school's first professor and, by the time he retired in 1918, had taught at Dartmouth for 65 years and led the Engineering School as Dean for 47 years.

References:   MACo 1975-032

References:   MACo 1929-064

The medal's obverse shows Joseph dressed in Egyptian style with bushels of grain and baskets of fruit at his feet; sun to his left. At top left, JOSEPH; signed in exergue, © E. WEISTROP - 1969

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

Joseph was Jacob's eleventh-born and favorite son, the first he had with Rachel. Joseph gained his brothers' envy and hate because he was Jacob's favorite and because of a dream he shared with them, in which he allegorically saw them submitting to him.  They conspired against him and sold him into slavery, where he eventually became the ruler of all Egypt. Jacob's blessing on Joseph whom he likened to a bull and a wild colt exceeded that of all his brothers. As the comment for this medal quotes:

"May all those blessings be a crown upon the head of Joseph... and a chain upon him that was the ruler of Egypt."

This is the eleventh 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 1969-100-002, TToI 11

The obverse bears bust of Robert P. Perkins in Red Cross uniform, facing left. Around, · ROBERT · P · PERKINS · - · ROMA · MCMXVIII ·

The reverse bears group of mother and three children in center. Around, (cross) AMERICAN (cross) RED (cross) CROSS (cross) IN (cross) ITALY (cross); below, CARITAS; signed above group, · P · M ·

Robert P. Perkins (1862-1924) was president of the Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Company and served as the American Red Cross commissioner in Italy during World War I.

Manship also served in the Red Cross in Italy but nearly died from pneumonia brought on by dreadful weather and a major bout of influenza. He was sent to a hospital in Padua and when he was finally well enough to travel, to Rome, where he stayed at the Grand Hotel, the only one in the city with heat. Manship got to know Perkins while recuperating in Rome.

With this design Manship expressed his gratitude to Perkins and the Red Cross, but also his compassion for the fatherless families left behind in war-torn Europe. The images do not do justice to this medallion's massive presence. The bust rises another 11mm over an already thick base for a total height of 20mm; a typical electronic coin scale will capitulate before the medallion's weight.

This medallion probably represents an early cast of Manship's design and is likely unique. It was most likely cast from his preliminary plaster after he returned to the States. It is larger than the 105mm medallion and differs from that version in legend and signature placement.

The medallion measures 112mm in diameter and was cast in bronze by the artist. It is probably a unique specimen and one of the prize pieces in any collection of 20th Century American Medallic Art.

References:   Murtha 472

The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Isidore Konti facing left. Around, ····· ISIDORE · KONTI ····· SCULPTOR ····· MCMXV

The reverse bears figures of old, toga-wearing man and boy holding lyre walking together towards right; bird behind them, sun above, all within beaded border. Around, · GUIDE · PHIL-OSOPHER · AND · FRIEND ·; signed under arm of older man at right, ·PAUL· / ·MAN / SHIP·

Isidore Konti (1862-1938) was a Vienna-born (of Hungarian parents) sculptor. He began formal art studies at the age of 16 when he entered the Imperial Academy in Vienna, where he studied under Edmund von Hellmer.  Konti moved to the United States sometime in the early 1890s where his skills were much in demand during the great international exhibitions.

Konti took the young Manship under his wings when he moved from Philadelphia to New York, right after he had finished his studies with Charles Grafly at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In the years from 1908 to 1909 Manship worked as Konti's assistant. Konti encouraged him to submit his work and Manship became the youngest artist to win the American Prix de Rome. This set the stage for studies in Italy and Greece, and firmed up Manship's everlasting devotion to classical themes.

The circular medallion measures 90mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. The number of cast pieces is not known.

References:   Murtha 64

The medal's obverse bears upper body of a Native American morphing into a corn cob, with figure's clothes turning into the cob's husk.  Around, ··· THE NATIONAL CORN EXPOSITION ··· / OMAHA 1908

The reverse bears grain stalks arranges in wreath shape around center field with legend: Honor Award / to

The National Corn Exposition of 1908 was the brain child of Omaha businessman and civic leader Gurdon W. Wattles. He had already been the force behind the Trans Mississippi and International Exposition of 1898.  The exposition ran from December 9 to December 19, 1908, and attracted over 7,731 exhibition entries.

The circular medal was struck in gold-plated bronze. I know neither artist nor mint or mintage. Any additional information would be deeply appreciated.

The medal's depicts three shields bearing crown, eagle, sword and key, arrayed around cross on bishopric mitre. Below, 1808-1908.

The reverse bears scroll with names of bishops and archbishops who served at the Philadelphia diocese. Around, CENTENNIAL OF THE DIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA. PA. At bottom of centerfield, THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. OF NEWARK, N.J.

The medal measures 50.6mm in diameter and was struck in silver by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.