All Medals

References:   MACo 1930-001-052, SoM 52

The medal's obverse bears exposition's iconic Tower of Jewels with light rays behind. Around, PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION; in exergue, SAN FRANCISCO / 1915

The reverse bears laurel branch behind exposition seal at left. Across, HAL / HEMPSTEAD / IN RECOGNITION / OF / FAITHFUL / SERVICE

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.  No mintage is reported.

The uniface medallion bears a burning oil lamp surrounded by THE CENTURY / ASSOCIATION and flanked by 1847 - 1947, all surrounded by heavily beaded border.

Carl Paul Jennewein designed this simple and elegant commemorative medallion for the Century Association of New York, a club with a heavy artist presence. 

The circular medallion was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1947-028

This medal's obverse bears nude male figure restraining rearing winged steed. Signed at right above exergue, (RCW monogram)

The medal's reverse bears facade of Brown & Bigelow building. At top of building, THE HOVSE OF QVALITY / BROWN & BIGELOW; zodiac symbols all around. Signed in exergue, RCWAKEMAN

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

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., as it is now known, was founded in New York City in the year 1914. The twelve original founders were Ernest Albert, Paul Cornoyer, Marshal Fry, Edmund Greacen, Arthur Powell, Walter C. Hartson, William R. Leigh, Frederick Mulhaupt, G. Glenn Newell, H. Ledyard Towle, H. A. Vincent and Jules Turcas. Its goal is to further the cause of contemporary American artists through its Annual National Open Exhibition in New York City, open to all members and non- members, demonstrations, lectures, awards at the Annual, slide program, a newsletter mentioning all activities of the Members and Associate Members and other cultural activities.

I am not quite sure how Brown & Bigelow came to be commemorated on the medal's reverse, but they likely were a big financial supporter of the organization or possibly underwrote the medal's production. The earliest reference to a Brown and Bigelow Award Medal that I could find dates to 1929.

The medal measures 63mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-042

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, facing left; at left, anchor within wreath and scrollwork. Across, THEODORE / ROOSEVELT / PRESIDENT / OF THE / UNITED / STATES; signed at bottom right, BARBER

The reverse bears three ships under steam on wide ocean expanse; at left, female figure holding chart with imprinted globe; nude child figure raising flag. in exergue at right, HAMPTON · ROADS · DEC · 16 · 1907 / DEPARTURE · OF · UNITED · STATES · ATLANTIC / FLEET · ON · CRUISE · AROUND · THE · WORLD; signed at bottom left, MORGAN

By 1907, tensions between Japan and the United States were increasing.  Japan had just won the war with Russia and the U.S. had acquired new territory in the Pacific as a consequence of the Spanish-American War. Neither country was interested in a war with the other and Roosevelt decided to sailt the Atlantic Fleet around the world, both as a show of strength and as a symbol of American goodwill. 

On December 16, 1907 a fleet of sixteen American battleships set sail on a world cruise of friendship, diplomacy and propaganda. The flagship was the USS Connecticut, which was commanded by Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. The battleships were painted white save for gilded scrollwork on their bows. This color scheme would later be responsible for the name "The Great White Fleet."

The plaquette was a coproduction of the two senior engravers at the U.S.Mint: Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan. Barber designed the obverse and Morgan the reverse.

The plaquette measures 83mm x 62mm and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage is not known to me.

The obverse bears a large female figure gazing intently left; four small female figures holding lamp and lekythoi. Lower left quadrant, THE WISE / VIRGINS.

The reverse bears five female figures standing and sitting on stair with empty lamps; two sleek cats. Below, eight lines of text including six lines of verse: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS. / "NO LIGHT HAD WE, FOR THAT WE DO REPENT, / AND LEARNING THIS THE BRIDEGROOM WILL RELENT. / TOO LATE, TOO LATE, YE CANNOT ENTER NOW." / "NO LIGHT, SO LATE, AND DARK AND CHILL THE NIGHT. / O LET US IN, THAT WE MAY FIND THE LIGHT. / TOO LATE, TOO LATE, YE CANNOT ENTER NOW." / TENNYSON; below text, © HENRY KREIS.

The lines of poetry are an excerpt from Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Idylls of the King," which is based, as this medal is, on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

This medal was chosen as the 36th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage was 599 pieces in bronze and 50 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-036, SoM 36

The medal's obverse combines view of Statue of Liberty in foreground with American Express' office building and rising sun with bold ray pattern in background, ocean with tug in-between.  Around left side, AMERICAN EXPRESS PLAZA; at bottom, 1975; signed near pedestal of Statue of Liberty, JDL

The reverse bears three older headquarters buildings, each labeled with a date, 1858, 1874 and 1917. Around top, AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY / 1850 - 1975; signed above exergue at left, JDL SC

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

References:   MACo 1972-021

References:   ANS 40, Baxter 321, MACo 1919-010, Marqusee 49

The uniface medallion bears two airships facing left and one balloon over stylized clouds at bottom. Around top, YEARS OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS; at left, large 35; at lower right, GOOD (logo) YEAR / LEADER IN / LIGHTER THAN / AIR CRAFT; signed at 5 o'clock, (RC monogram)

Based on my auction experience, this medallion is pretty rare.  It is also one of the signed medallions of the series so we can be sure that it was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan.

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

References:   MACo 1948-041-x35