All Medals

The medal's obverse bears bust of Magnuson, facing. Around upper half, FOUNDER OF THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO; in exergue, PAUL B. / MAGNUSON, M.D. / 1884 - 1968; signed at left, ERG / 1974

The reverse bears heavy lettering over silhouette of the Institute building. Across, PRESENTED / TO HIS FRIENDS / AND ASSOCIATES / BY HIS FAMILY, / COMMEMORATING THE / DEDICATION OF THE / NEW BUILDING OF THE / REHABILITATION INSTITUTE / OF CHICAGO / APRIL 26, 1974

Paul B Magnuson, M.D., was a bone and joint surgeon who continuously sought new treatments and devices for assisting his patients as they faced unique situations presented by their disability. As a physician, Dr. Magnuson saw his duty, not only as curing, but also as restoring a patient "to his family, his job, and his life." He was a champion of the underdog and as an advocate for veterans was the architect of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

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

References:   MACo 1973-203-001

The medal's obverse bears male and female nudes stretching towards the sky, winged Pegasus rearing at left. Below, signature G. CECERE / © 1933.

The reverse bears twin peaks with a small tree growing at their feet with stars above. Above, concentric two-line legend, THERE IS NO EASY WAY FROM THE / EARTH TO THE STARS.

It was created in the middle of the Great Depression and, in Cecere's own words, symbolizes

"the age-old inner urge of a large portion of humanity - its never-ceasing struggle to free from the bondage of the sordid and material, its aspiration toward a higher place of existence."

He dedicated his medal to "those who are fighting adversities while maintaining a vision of a higher goal."

This medal was chosen as the eighth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and had a reported production of 1,287 in bronze and 125 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-008, Marqusee 107, SoM 8

The uniface medal bears bust of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, left. Around top, FERDINAND·VANDEVEER·HAYDEN; under truncation, M·D·C·C·C·LXXXVIII; signed and dated at bottom with (JF monogram ) / MC - MVI

This medal was awarded by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences for recognition of the best publication, exploration, discovery or research in the natural sciences of geology and paleontology. Established in 1888, the bronze medal was accompanied by a cash award of $300 and was awarded every three years.

References:   Marqusee 145

The medal's obverse bears George Westinghouse, facing right, bent over desk with stylus in his hand. Around top right, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE CENTENNIAL; across, 1846 / 1946

The reverse bears imagery of industries in which Westinghouse's inventions played a role arrayed around center field; from top left, flight, locomotives, power plants and industrial machines, communications, both wired and wireless. In center field, COMMEMORATING / THE LIFE AND WORK OF / GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE / WHO KNEW THE SCIENTIFIC / USE OF IMAGINATION

George Westinghouse (1846-1914) was an American entrepreneur and engineer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry, gaining his first patent at the age of 19. Westinghouse saw the potential in alternating current as an electricity distribution system in the early 1880s and put all his resources into developing and marketing it, putting him in direct competition with Edison's direct current system.

The medal's obverse was designed by Jeno Juszko whereas the reverse was designed by Rene Chambellan.  Juszko was certainly more of a specialist of portraits and Chambellan excelled at machine age imagery, so that was a good co-production.

The circular medal measures 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1946-029

The plaque bears the figure of Sir Galahad next to his horse, looking into a rising sun; on shield below, THE NEW CHIVALRY; signed V D BRENNER on right.

The medal was commissioned by Henry Ezekiel Jackson, a minister and prolific lecturer and writer. He attempted to start a movement called the "New Chivalry" whose purpose it was to provide an "education in correct thinking about sex matters."

Jackson believed that the use of a symbol would be an effective way of promoting his cause by allowing men to demonstrate willingness "to show their colors and express their loyalty to them." He commissioned Brenner to create a design "of which he may be privately conscious and proud, and which he may display as occasion and good taste suggest." The design was struck in three forms: bronze, sterling silver and solid 18kt gold.

Enlisting the help of Brenner was not inexpensive and only the generosity of a friend and neighbor in Montclair allowed Jackson to secure Brenner's services. Per Jackson's instructions, Brenner used the Galahad figure from a famous painting by George Frederick Watts as the basis for his design.

This design later became a stock design for the Medallic Art Company.

References:   BG 13

References:   ANS 55

References:   MACo 1924-040, Marqusee 9