All Medals

This medal's obverse bears muscular male figure standing in water, holding back two horses with outstretched arms; clouds and lightning in background.  Around, COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION OF LIBBY DAM / KOOTENAI RIVER MONTANA - AUGUST 24, 1975; signed over water at right, WEIN, Sc.

The reverse bears two jumping fish above conjoined American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf. Above, CONSTRUCTED BY THE / U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS / UNDER THE COUMBIA RIVER TREATY / BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES / AND CANADA

This is a really handsome medal that is somewhat reminiscent of much earlier art deco medals.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut.

References:   MACo 1975-152

The medal's obverse bears beautifully detailed vase within beaded border. Around, THE GARDEN CLUB / OF AMERICA

The reverse bears crossed laurel branches around bottom half, center field empty for inscription. Signed at lower right, HARRIET W FRISHMUTH 1934

References:   MACo 1935-007

References:   Baxter 241

The plaquette's obverse bears lovingly detailed, massive turbo generator before city skyline. Around cupola top, WORLD POWER CONFERENCE / 1936; across exergue, TURBO-GENERATOR-CAPACITY 160.000 K·W· 1936 / CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC·; signed above exergue at right, R. P. Chambellan Sc.

The reverse bears street view of Edison's first generator central station with laurel wreath at top left and tree at right. Across bottom, FIRST EDISON CENTRAL STATION - 1882 / 6 GENERATORS-TOTAL CAPACITY 1200 H·P·

The World Power Conference was conceived by the Scotsman Daniel Dunlop in 1923.  He organized the first meeting which took place in London in 1924 and attracted 1,700 attendees from 40 nations. It was deemed so successful that the conference was established as a recurring event.

In the beginning, the World Power Conference convened on a regular schedule every six years. The Third World Power Conference of 1936 met from September 7th to 12th in Washington, DC.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the conference on September 11th and used a golden key to activate a small generator at the Builder Dam in Colorado.

In 1968 the name was changed to World Energy Conference and the conferences were scheduled every three years. In 1992 the group changed its name again and became known as the World Energy Council.

The year of 1936 also marked the rebranding of the New York Edison Company to Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. This is probably the reason that this handsome plaquette was issued on the occasion of the conference. From the humble beginnings of the first power plant on Pearl Street in 1882, the company would eventually grow into a behemoth with approximately $13 billion in annual revenue and $47 billion in assets by 2016.

This is a beautiful Machine Age gem by Chambellan. I admit that I am partial to detailed renditions of technology, but Chambellan masterfully combined the machinery in the foreground with a city skyline and subtle sun rays in the background.  The overall effect is pleasing and powerful at the same time.

The plaquette measures 114.4mm x 84.2mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1936-042

References:   MACo 1963-001-042, GANYU 42

The medal's obverse bears couple exchanging vows iwith Christ flanked by two disciples in background, blessing the couple's union. In exergue, very faintly, CONSECRATIO / AMORIS · FIDEI · UNITATIS / (PM monogram) - ©

The reverse bears four purri arranged around rectangular area inscribed with: Margaret Gene McIlvaine / George Stanley Koehler / June 16, 1951

The couple's wedding announcement ran in the New York Times on December. 10, 1950. George S. Koehler taught English at Amherst College for many years and was well known in academic circles and beyond. In his career he was an exchange professor at Freiburg in Germany and was a a judge on Yale University's panel for its presitigious poetry prize.

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1934-044

The obverse bears muscular men raising a fluted pillar. Above, THERE WILL BE OTHER TOWERS; in exergue, (circled 19) FOR THEE TO / BUILD (circled 40); above ground line at left, © HANCOCK

The reverse bears a shattered oak stump with two hardy well-leafed shoots; sun behind.

Hancock designed this optimistic medal when the second World War was still young. His message was that renewal and creation will surely follow death and destruction. As he wrote in his message "From the Artist":

"As the earth renews itself after the ruin of storm, so man must rebuild his towers -material and spiritual- after the wreck of war."

This medal was chosen as the 22nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1940. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported production quantity is 894 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-022, Marqusee 199, SoM 22

References:   MACo 1930-001-040, SoM 40

The obverse bears Art Deco style allegory depicting a kneeling female figure (representing the city) with five smaller figures (representing the five boroughs) standing on her extended leg. Around, THE CITY OF NEW YORK / * * * * *; signed along edge at 5:00 position: MICHAEL LANTZ.

The reverse bears flying male figure at top with skyscrapers below to either side; at bottom right, a reclining female figure holding book; at bottom left, a factory with smokestacks; at center, inscribed field surrounded by the names of the five boroughs: MANHATTAN BROOKLYN QUEENS BRONX RICHMOND. This piece contains inscription: PRESENTED BY / MAYOR / WILLIAM O'DWYER / TO MAYOR / KENDIG C. BARE / LANCASTER. PENN. / 1950

This medal is the highest award conferred upon civilians by the City of New York. The medal is presented by the Mayor to those individuals who have demonstrated, "exceptional citizenship and outstanding achievement."

The recipients come from a wide range of backgrounds, including ordinary citizens, foreign dignitaries, athletes, and film stars. The recipient of this particular piece was Kendig C. Bare, the mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was mayor from 1950 to 1958 and served in the Korean War in 1950/1951. This particular piece seems to be one of the earliest because the medal was only designed in 1948. There is also a companion Golden Anniversary medal that shares many of the design elements.

This medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1948-012-001, Marqusee 236