All Medals

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Albert Ehlebert Ebert, quarter left; laurel wreath around bottom. Around top, ALBERT ETHELBERT EBERT; across, 1840 - 1906

The reverse bears wreath partially showing through gaps in inscription field. Around, AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION - ORGANIZED 1857 INCORPORATED 1888; across, EBERT PRIZE / AWARDED TO / (engraved) LESTER F. HOYT / 1926

Albert Ethelbert Ebert (1840-1906) was born in Bavaria but came to the U.S. as a one year old. His family settled in Chicago. He apprenticed with the pharmacists to learn not just the selling of ready-made remedies but also the German-style compounding. He studied Pharmacology first in Chicago, then In Philadelphia and finally in Munich, where he also studied Chemistry. He represented the American Pharmaceutical Association at conferences abroad and established the Ebert Prize in 1873. The Ebert Prize, the oldest pharmacy award in the U.S., is awarded for the best essay or communication containing original investigation of a medical substance in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Lester F. Hoyt and J. A. Handy won the award in 1926 for their study of "Diethylphtalate"

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter. Neither maker nor mintage are reported.

The plaque bears Heracles running next to Ceryneian Hind, both facing left, within heavily beaded border. Signed at bottom, EDWARD FIELD SANFORD JR. 1914.

It was Heracles' third labour to catch the Ceryneian Hind. Heracles had proven that killing great beasts was a challenge he could overcome with relative ease. Catching the Ceryneian Hind was supposed to be impossible as the sacred deer could outrun even arrows that were shot at her. Even were Heracles to succeed, by doing so he would anger the goddess Artemis, because the hind was hers.

Heracles succeeded by catching the hind, apologizing to Artemis and promising to let the hind go after the completion of his task, and then tricking Eurystheus into letting the hind go after he had confirmed the challenge's completion.

The circular plaque measures 142.5mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears profile of Roosevelt, facing left. Around, in two lines, · FRANKLIN · DELANO · ROOSEVELT · - · 31ST · PRESIDENT · OF · THE · UNITED · STATES / · 1933 · · 1937 · - · JOHN · NANCE · GARNER · VICE · PRESIDENT; signed under truncation, PMANSHIP ©

The reverse bears U.S.S. Constitution heading left above winged female in flight, surrounded by beaded border. Around, : THOU · TOO · SAIL · ON · O · SHIP · OF · STATE : SAIL · ON · O · UNION · STRONG · AND · GREAT

Roosevelt's profile is modeled in such high relief that it took 12 strikes from the great presses at the Mint to render the finer details. Roosevelt himself apparently suggested the "Old Ironsides" motif for the reverse. Manship placed the winged female figure underneath to represent the modern day "Ship of State."

I do not have many U.S. Mint medals in my collection, but this one is really quite handsome. According to Joe Levine, many collectors believe this to be the handsomest of all bronze inauguration medals.

The medal measures 76.2mm (2 5/8in) in diameter and 4mm in thickness and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage was 1,500. There are two much rarer variants of this medal that were struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The dies were actually produced there and MACo struck 50 pieces on its own presses using a 5.24mm thick planchet. Unfortunately, MACo could not match the Mint's quote of 85¢ per piece and had to send the dies to Philadelphia for production of the complete run. Of the 50 pieces struck by MACo one is reported to have been gold-plated, all others have a dark brown patina.

Many thanks to Joe Levine for additional information and to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for sending me pictures of the Medallic Art variant.

References:   Marqusee 254, Murtha 332

The uniface plaquette bears portrait of Louise Strong Hammond facing left. Around, (rosette) MCMVI (rosette) LOUISE (rosette) STRONG (rosette) - (rosette) HAMMOND (rosette)  T · S · S  (rosette) FEC (rosette) AD (rosette)

Louise Strong Hammond was probably a daughter of her eponymous mother and William Andrew Hammond, a banker. I could not track her identity down for sure and would appreciate help.

The circular plaquette measures circa 115mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No mintage is reported.

This uniface medal shows young mother breastfeeding her baby, one hand holding her breast, the other supporting baby's head.

Maker's mark at 6:00 om edge, MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.

The Medallic Art Company acquired the rights to this French medal in 1933 and made a stock medal in one size. Chapu was primarily a portrait medalist who had a great influence on young American artists who studied under him at the Academie Julian. Among his American pupils were such greats as John Flanagan, Hermon Atkins MacNeil, and Bela Pratt.

The medal measures 85mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1933-035, Marqusee 113

The medal's obverse bears bust of Henry A. Petter, facing. Around top, HENRY A. PETTER; at lower left, FOUNDER / 1860 / 1933; signed at right, J.J.

The reverse bears wreath at bottom. Around top, HENRY A. PETTER SUPPLY CO.; across, SEVENTY-FIFTH / ANNIVERSARY / 1890 1965 / (rosettte) / PADUCAH / KENTUCKY

Henry A. Petter (1860-1933) started his company on the banks of the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky. When Petter Supply started, its primary focus was on the Marine Industry. Since that time, Petter Supply has become a full line Industrial Distributor. As of 2017, the company was still family-owned and operated, with a fourth generation family member in charge.

The medal is a reprise of an earlier 1940 design that celebrated Petter Supply's 50th anniversary.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1965-007

The medal's obverse bears logo of interlocking letters UTCO. Underneath, on center field, MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION; around, FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE / · · · 1889 - 1939 · · ·

The reverse bears view of company's building in Pittsburgh with clouds behind. Around, THE UNION TRUST COMPANY / OF PITTSBURGH

The Union Trust Company of Pittsburgh was founded in 1889 by Andrew Mellon, the later Secretary of the Treasury.  Initially named the Union Transfer and Trust Company, its purpose was "to faciliate the transfer and safekeeping of securities." 

Their iconic Pittsburgh building was actually built by Henry Clay Frick to serve as a shopping arcade, but the quick growth and immense wealth of the Union Trust Company and its backers allowed them to purchase and repurpose the gorgeous building as a bank.

There are all kinds of urban legends associated with the building.  One claims that there is a covenant on the building that requires it to maintain a chapel in perptuity because it is erected on the grounds of a church.  This is apparently not true.

I love the art deco lettering of the logo.  The interlocking letters are so simple and yet so beautiful.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1938-004

References:   MACo 1989-329, Cal MA-1990