All Medals

The uniface medallion bears barefoot tapper, facing left, harvesting latex from cut rubber tree. From large number at lower left, running around top, 20 - YEARS OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS; to right of tapper, FIRST / GOODYEAR / RUBBER / PLANTATION / 1916; signed between tapper's feed, (RC monogram)

Rubber tapping is the process by which latex is collected from a rubber tree. The latex is harvested by slicing a groove into the bark of the tree at a depth of a quarter inch with a hooked knife and peeling back the bark. Trees must be approximately six years old and six inches in diameter in order to be tapped for latex. Each night a rubber tapper must remove a thin layer of bark along a downward half spiral on the tree trunk. If done carefully and with skill, this tapping panel will yield latex for up to five hours. Then the opposite side will be tapped, allowing this side to heal over. The spiral allows the latex to run down to a collecting cup. The work is done at night or in the early morning before the day's temperature rises, so the latex will drip longer before coagulating and sealing the cut.

Charles Goodyear is usually credited with the modern discovery of vulcanization of rubber, though Thomas Hancock of Boston received a patent for vulcanized rubber 8 weeks before Goodyear did and the two were in bitter litigation at one point. Though losing the patent suit he had brought in England, he prevailed as a business man. In 1860 he traveled to New York to see his dying daughter but upon finding that he had arrived too late he collapsed and died shortly thereafter. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded by Frank Seiberling almost four decaades after his death.

This is the 20 year version of Rene Chambellan's Goodyear series of medallions. All of these medallions came mounted to a wooden board to be hung in offices or shops that were selling Goodyear product.

The circular medallion measures 108mm and is struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1948-041-x

The medal's obverse bears muscular, nude male figure in flight, caduceus in outstretched hand, mortar and pestle in other. Across, Science - for the / world's - well-being / CHAS. PFIZER & CO., INC.; signed under legend, PHIILIPS, SC.

The reverse bears view of research facility in wooded landscape. Around, PFIZER MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES; in exergue, DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH / IN THE SERVICE OF / MEDICINE AND MANKIND / OCTOBER 6, 1960

The medal's obverse was designed by Thomas Philips and the reverse by Joseph di Lorenzo.

The medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1960-066

The medal's obverse has two halves, one silver and one bronze. On left, silver half, an industrial worker wearing heavy protective gear pours liquid into container. In right, bronze half, several scenes from inside a metal working factory.

The reverse bears HH logo at top. Below, 100 / YEARS OF SERVICE / TO INDUSTRY AND / ARTS ··· 1867 - 1967

Hand & Harman was founded  in New York City in 1867 by Peter Hayden. Hayden was a harness maker specializing in producing custom-made decorative silver fittings for the horses of well-to-do New Yorkers. He quickly discovered that there was more money to be made from trading in silver than from fashioning harnesses. From these beginnings, the company grew into a diversified conglomerate specializing in precious metal dealing, recycling, and non-precious metal manufacturing.

The medal posed significant technical challenges for the Medallic Art Company. The manufacture of this medal requires that a thin silver strip be placed over a bronze planchet, forming a bimetallic obverse.  The medal had to be kept in register between the multiple strikings that were required.

The circular medal measures 56.9mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1966-006

The medal's obverse bears young Benjamin, wolf looking at him and bird landing on his outstretched hand; more birds and sun to his left. At top left, BENJAMIN; signed and dated in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

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

Benjamin was Jacob's twelfth and youngest son, his second with Rachel. The quote states:

"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he consumes the foe, and in the evening he divides the spoil."

Jacob's blessing on him contains the prophecy that his tribe would provide Israel with its first and its last ruler.

This is the twelfth 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 1969-100-011, TToI 12

References:   ANS 5

The uniface medallion's obverse bears muscular, bare-armed and gloved worker, facing right, removing a tire from an open mold. From number at left, text running around upper edge, 25 - YEAR OF FRIENDLY SERVICE; in exergue, (GOODYEAR logo) / THE GREATEST NAME / IN RUBBER; signed to right of mold, (RC monogram)

This is the 25 year version of Rene Chambellan's Goodyear series of medallions. All of these medallions came mounted to a wooden board to be hung in offices or shops that were selling Goodyear product. The mounting is done via a drilled, threaded pin that is affixed to the center of the medallion.

This medallion has Chambellan going back to one of his fortés: the depiction of industrial workers at their places of work.  Few American medallic sculptors did that as well as Chambellan.

Dick Johnson's reference does not list the set number for this medallion, so I follow his practice and list it with an x for unknown.

The circular medallion measures 102mm in diameter and is struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

At least my examplar of this medallion is silver-plated.  Whether that was done by the Medallic Art Company or whether the recipient performed an "upgrade" on the medallion is unknown.  For now, I list the one known variant as made of bronze until I receive more feedback from other collectors.

References:   MACo 1948-041-x

The medal's obverse bears Washington portrait, facing quarter-left, under eye in the sky with radiant beams of light; underneath, streamer with inscription (acorn) SUO (acorn) SE (acorn) ROE - ORE (acorn) FIRMAT (acorn); right angle and compass at center bottom. Around bottom half, HE WAS A BROTHER - OF THE MYSTIC TIE

The reverse seal of Fredericksburg lodge with masonic symbols and Washington's progress throught the masonic hierarchy. From left throught bottom, to right, NOV. 4 / 5752 / ENTERED / APPRENTICE; MAR. 3 - 5753 / FELLOW - CRAFT; AUG. 4 / 5753 / MASTER / MASON; signed at bottom, I. F. WOOD, DES. G. H. LOVETT, FEC.

The dates on the medal are numbered in the masonic calendar, which can be a bit confusing to non-masons, but we can simply subtract 4,000 from the numbers to get the "common" calendar years. Washington advanced quickly through the apprenticeship stage to emerge a master mason at the young age of 21.

The medal was designed by Isaac F. Wood and the dies were cut by George H. Lovett. It measures 51mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.  It appears to be a pretty rare medal though I am not aware of its exact mintage.

References:   HSoNY 1918

References:   MACo 1971-013-002, WR 2

The medal's obverse bears bust of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, r.,  the founder of New Orleans with Fleur de Lis. In background, the site of the future city. At top, NEW ORLEANS / 1718; at bottom, BIENVILLE

The reverse bears modern city skyline of New Orleans over American shield. At top, NEW ORLEANS / 1918; at bottom BICENTENNIAL over 18 stars; signed under shield, E - W / GORHAM CO.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville (1680-1767) was the four-time governor of French Louisiana and founder of the city of New Orleans.

The circular medal measures 63,5mm in diameter and was struck by the Gorham Compan of Providence, Rhode Island.