The John E. Marqusee Collection

The obverse bears bust-length profile image of soldier wearing helmet. Signed below bust, DCF.

The reverse bears image of nurse attending injured soldier depicted within cross. Above, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS; to left and right of vertical bar of cross, TO COMMEMORATE - THE VISION AND / ACHIEVEMENT OF - THE WAR COUNCIL / 1917 - 1919; signed below cross, WHL / DCF.

The medal is numbered and contains the maker's mark MEDALLIC ART CO. NY.

This medal was the 42nd issue of the American Numismatic Society. It was co-issued with the American Red Cross in 1920. Daniel Chester French designed it and the Medallic Art Company executed it. The initials of Reverend William H. Low in the medal's reverse were included due to his suggestion that the the nurse stand in front of the bed.

The medal was awarded to twelve New York businessmen who volunteered for the War Council of the American Red Cross. As the Red Cross Bulletin Vol. IV No. 51 (December 13, 1920) states:

"The General Board also presented to the four members of the Wat Council who were present the special Daniel Chester French medal, authorized at its last meeting in recognition of their war service. These were Eli Wadsworth, Cornelius N. Bliss Jr., George E. Scott and Charles D. Norton. The eight other members of the War Council who will receive their medal are Henry P. Davison, chairman; William Howard Taft, George B. Case, Jesse H. Jones, Edward N. Hurley, John D. Ryan, Grayson M., P. Murphy, and Harvey D. Gibson."

The medal measures 70mm (2.75in) and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 12 pieces in gold, 4 in silver and 205 in bronze.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for permission to use the images of the bronze variant.

References:   ANS 42, Baxter 327, MACo 1920-017, Marqusee 176

The obverse bears a female head (alternatively representing Greater New York or Columbia) crowned with laurel in high relief, facing right.

The reverse depicts a full figure of nude male facing left, standing erect, pouring water from classic vase resting on his shoulder. On Left and right, TO COMMEMORATE - THE COMPLETION / OF THE CATSKILL - AQUEDUCT / AN ACHIEVEMENT - OF CIVIC SPIRIT / SCIENTIFIC GENIUS - AND FAITHFUL LABOR / 1905 NEW - YORK 1917

This is the 35th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

This medal was authorized by the Medal subcommittee of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee and issued by the American Numismatic Society (ANS).

Daniel Chester French won this commission through his acquaintance with Robert de Forest, with whom he served on the board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and who also was the president of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee. The committee was convened to organize the celebrations in honor of the completion of the massive Catskill Aqueduct project. Construction had started twelve years earlier in 1905. By 1917 a 163-mile long system of tunnels and pipes had been completed to transport water from the Catskill Mountains to New York City.

Although the medal is commonly credited to Daniel Chester French, the reverse was actually designed by both French and Augustus Lukeman.

In 1933, Clyde Curlee Trees, the President of Medallic Art Company chose French's beautiful female head as the symbol of his company and obviously gained permission to use the design in many different ways. The head became not only the company logo but also appeared on bronze replica medals that were struck in an unknown quantity. As late as 1979 the Medallic Art Company issued gold-plated struck bronzes in the small diameter.

The original medals measured 76mm in diameter and were cast by the Medallic Art Company in a quantity of 57 bronze and 23 silver pieces. 13 of the silver pieces were supposedly disposed of but other sources report that 12 silver pieces survived.

Later, an unknown number of the smaller 38mm diameter brones were struck by the Medallic Art Company.

References:   ANS 35, Baxter 245, MACo 1917-007, Marqusee 177

The medal's obverse bears bust of Commodore Dewey, facing right. Across, THE · GIFT / OF - THE / PEOPLE - OF · THE / UNITED - STATES / TO · THE - OFFICERS / AND · MEN - OF · THE / ASIATIC - SQUADRON / UNDER · THE - COMMAND / OF · COM-MODORE / GEORGE - DEWEY / (wreath and anchor) / (star); signed under truncation D C FRENCH / 1898

The medal's reverse bears young sailor seated on cannon barrel with American flag held furled in his lap. Around, · IN · MEMORY · OF · THE · VICTORY · OF · MANILA · BAY · / MAY 1 - 1898

This beautiful medal commemorates the Battle of Manila Bay. In this battle of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey's Asiatic Squadron destroyed the Spanish Navy's entire Pacific Fleet while only suffering one casualty to a heart-attack. Dewey was the only American officer to ever attain the rank of Admiral of the Navy, a rank that would today be the equivalent of a six-star admiral, a rank which does not exist.

The medal measures 46mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany & Co., New York.  Commonly seen with a loop and ribbon, it was awarded by the Navy to all sailors who participated in the Battle of Manila Bay, including Dewey himself (he wore it proudly with the reverse side facing).  Those military award medals are all embossed with the recipient's name.  This medal must either have been a special presentation piece or a design sample but I can't be certain about it. Any expert opinion would be welcome.

Many thanks to Bob Slawsky for granting me permission to use his images.

References:   Baxter 244, Marqusee 178

The obverse bears softly modeled and beautiful head of Victory (r.), wearing helmet decorated with the lilies of France, the oak leaves of Britain and the pine of the United States. Around, TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT TO NEW YORK - OF THE FRENCH AND BRITISH WAR COMMISSIONS 1917; signed on collar, D C FRENCH.

The reverse bears allegorical group of three figures. On the right, standing figure of female Liberty holding sword, greeting figures of Joan of Arc and medieval knight representing France and England. Signed at lower right, E.B.LONGMAN / SC. 1917.

The medal is numbered and edge-marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N Y.

The United States officially entered World War I in 1917 and quickly tried to coordinate the war effort with the the European allies. The French and British delegations were first to arrive and were given a spectacular reception. New York mayor John Purroy Mitchel had put together a Committee of Reception that was in charge of organizing the event. As part of the activities, the committee and the American Numismatic Association (ANS) teamed up to issue this commemorative medal. They engaged Daniel Chester French and Evelyn Longman to design the two sides of the medal. Evelyn Longman was one of French's students and the first woman sculptor to be elected a full member of the National Academy of Design in 1919.

Barbara Baxter considers this medal one of French's "most outstanding pieces," the other one being his American Red Cross medal.

This is the 34th official issue of the American Numismatic Society. The medal measures 63.4mm (2.5in) and was struck in bronze, silver and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is 5 in gold, 109 in silver and 171 in bronze.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for permission to use their images of the bronze variant.

References:   ANS 34, Baxter 317, MACo 1917-013, Marqusee 180

References:   MACo 1939-021, Marqusee 185

The obverse bears Henry Hudson and sailors on the Halve Maen during the hoisting of some freight onto the ship. Around top, DISCOVERY OF HUDSON RIVER BY HENRY HUDSON A D MDCIX; at lower left, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY; at lower right, HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMM.; in exergue, HALVE MAEN; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

The reverse bears three seated female figures representing Steam Navigation, History, and Commerce; above, portrait of Robert Fulton. In background, views of New York in 1807 and 1909. Below portrait, ROBERT FULTON / 1765 1815; in exergue, FIRST USE OF STEAM NAVIGATION / ON THE HUDSON RIVER / 1807; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

This medal, in one of its many variants, is probably one of the most common ANS medals being traded. There are 15 known variants ranging from 1¼in silver-plated to 3in gold and 4in silver. Even the large gold variant had 11 pieces produced! This is probably the most successful ANS medal ever.

This medal was the 23rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The offical medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Tiffany & Company of New York as well as Whitehead and Hoag of Newark. The reported mintage for the official ANS issue is 100 pieces in silver but there is a wide range of variants that are listed separately.

References:   ANS 23, Marqusee 186,187

The obverse bears facade of building with four columns; in center, female figure representing Art descending steps, holding statuette in right and laurel wreath in left hand. On sides, representations of Painting and Sculpture. Above, CHARACTER RELIGION FRIENDSHIP; immediately below, MDC / CCXXX / VII and MCM / XIII; at lower left, (ANS seal); signed at lower right, E. FUCHS

The reverse bears tablet inscribed JOHN / PIERPONT / MORGAN flanked by two draped figures, female holding palm branch representing Fame at left, male with sledge hammer and anvil representing Industry at right.

This is the 30th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The rectangular medal measures 90mm x 74mm and was struck by Whitehead and Hoag of Newark, New Jersey. The mintage is 1 piece in gold, 100 pieces in silver and an 200 pieces in bronze.

References:   ANS 30, Baxter 292, Marqusee 188

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of Hunt, facing left, on circular field, ROBERT WOOLSTON HVNT around top. Two femal figures flank medal on both sides.  Signed at bottom right, EMIL FUCHS

The reverse bears steel worker in front of steel works, a Bessemer vessel at left, a steel rolling machine at right. Signed at lower right, EMIL FUCHS

Robert Woolston Hunt (1838-1923) was a metallurgical engineer, inventor, and superintendent in the American steel industry. He was elected President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which shows the high esteem in which his peers held him. During the Civil War he served as commander of Camp Harrisburg in Pennslvania and as a mustering officer for the state of Pennsylvania, undoubtedly putting his administrative talents to good use.

The piece in fine silver that is depicted was awarded to Edwin Chester Wright for a paper titled "The Manufacture and Properties of Killed Bessemer Steel."  By 1945 the medal had only been awarded nine times, so this is probably a very rare medal.

The rectangular plaquette measures 100.9mm x 69.3mm and was struck in silver-plated bronze or fine silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. I assume that it was also struck in bronze but I have not encountered that variant yet.

References:   Baxter 294, MACo 1921-021, Marqusee 189, 53

The obverse bears the goddess Ceres in profile right. Around, CERES BLESSING SO IS ON YOU. Below, JG © 39.

The reverse bears the blooming rose with two bees. Around, SCARCITY AND WANT SHALL SHUN YOU.

This medal was chosen as the 20th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1939. It was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  The reported production quantity of this medal in bronze is 937 pieces. The silver mintage was limited to an edition of 700 but no actual mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-020, Marqusee 196, SoM 20