Medallic Art Collector's Selection

The obverse bears a U.S. Army Chaplain, wearing steel helmet, kneeling facing right, assisting wounded soldier in drinking from water bottle. At upper edge, 1917 - 1918; signed at left, LAURA G / FRASER / 1920.

The reverse bears cross over U.S. Navy dreadnought, South Carolina class 1908. Around upper edge, AWARDED TO THE CHAPLAINS OF THE / AMERICAN AR-MY and NAVY; across lower half, THE GENERAL WAR-TIME COMMISSION / OF THE - CHURCHES / FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE / CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN / AMERICA.

The medal was awarded by the General Committee of Army and Navy Chaplains to the Protestant Chaplains who served with the Army and Navy of the United States during World War I.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island, and the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   Baxter 326, MACo 1920-022, Marqusee 166

The medal's obverse bears Bolivar on hroseback, facing left. Around,BOLIVAR · EMANCIPO · VENEZUELA · EN · CARABOBO · Y · DE · ALLI · PARTIO · A · REALIZAR · LA · LIBERTAD · DEL · CONTINENTE; signed in exergue at right, Morgan

The reverse bears winged female holding sword and horn. In wreath at her right, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1821; below, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1921; around, EL · GENERAL · JUAN · VICENTE · GOMEZ · EN - CELEBRACION · DEL · CENTENARIO · DE · LA · BATALLA · DE · CARABOBO

The Battle of Carabobo on June 24, 1821, was fought between independence fighters under the command of Venezuelan General Simon Bolivar. and Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. While there were other battles to follow, Bolivar's decisive victory in this battle led to the independence of Venezuela.

This medal really demonstrates Morgan's prowess as a medalist. It is very different from much of the work he did for the U.S. Mint and is one of my favorite medals by him. The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage is not known to me but someone can hopefully help me out with this information.

References:   Baxter 184, Marqusee 394

The medal's obverse bears shoulder-length portrait of Native American woman within central roundel, facing left, surrounded by ornate border of fruit and flowers with four superimposed circular medallions bearing letters "XX", "C", "I", and "A," counter-clockwise.

The reverse bears large flower at center, surrounded by legend within line border, XX CONGRESSO-INTERNACIONAL DE AMERICANISTAS / RIO DE JANEIRO / 1875 BRAZIL 1922

The International Congress of Americanists is an international academic conference for research in multidisciplinary studies of the Americas. Established August 25, 1875 in Nancy, France, the scholars' forum has met regularly since its inception, presently in three year increments, with the exception of World War II. Its meeting location alternates between Europe and the Americas. Congress members come from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, art, education, economy, geography, history, human rights, law, philosophy, linguistics, sociology, and urban studies.

The circular medal measures 61.5mm in diameter and was struck in copper. Neither mintage, nor mint, nor artist are known to me.

The medal's obverse bears navy soldier in fighting stance, gun leveled towards left and infantry soldier in similar stance, gun leveld towards right. In background, ocean with ship at left and land with building at right. Around, FOR GOD & COUNTRY; in exergue, SEMPER FIDELIS; signed between soldiers above exergue, (RTM monogram) / 22

The reverse bears American eagle over cartouche and American Legion seal. In cartouche, AMERICAN LEGION / SCHOOL AWARD / COURAGE HONOR SERVICE / LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

The American Legion was formed in February 1919 by three officers of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris. Congress chartered the organization in September of the same year and the group became very influential, playing the leading role in drafting and passing the so-called "GI Bill."

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1922-044-01, Marqusee 261

The medal's obverse bears bust of Theodore Roosevelt, facinf right. At lower right, MDCCCLVIII/ MCMXIX· / ··; signed and dated above shoulder at left, J.E. / FRASER / 19©20

The reverse bears flaming crusader's sword. Around, ROOSEVELT · MEMORIAL · ASSOCIATION / MEDAL OF HONOR; across, IF I MVST - CHOOSE / BETWEEN - RIGHTEOVSNESS / AND PEACE - I CHOOSE / RIGHTEOUVSNESS

The Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal was established by the Roosevelt Memorial Association in 1923 to honor outstanding service in fields reflecting the work and interests of Theodore Roosevelt.  The first medals were presented by the President at the White House. For many years thereafter, medals were awarded on Roosevelt's birthday, October 27th, at "Roosevelt House," a brownstone at 28 East 20th Stree in New York City.  Medals were awarded annually from 1923 to 1967, with exceptions for 1941 and 1944, and since 1967 on an occasional basis.

The circular medal measures 83mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to Chris Bach for the write-up.

References:   Baxter 237, MACo 1923-002

The obverse bears a Morgan horse in profile, facing left. Around, THE MORGAN HORSE CLVB; signed at left next to horse's chest, LAVRA GARDIN / FRASER 1923 / ©

The reverse bears mare with young colt facing right. Above, VERMONT; signed at bottom left, (LGF monogram) / 1923 / ©

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO NY

The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Its foundation sire was named Figure, later Justin Morgan after his best-known owner. Morgans were used as coach horses, harness racing, general riding animals, and as cavalry horses during the Civil War.

This medal measures 75mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   Baxter 358, MACo 1923-017, Marqusee 173

References:   MACo 1924-040, Marqusee 9

The medallion's obverse bears nude Mercury, head turned towards left. He is soaring above harbor, city skyline to left and large freighter approaching from right. At left and right, 1850 - 1925; signed around bottom right, ARTHUR LEE

The reverse bears anvil with scroll above surface. Around, THE WELL-BEING OF MEN IS FORGED ON THE ANVIL OF INDUSTRY / & MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CHANNELS OF TRADE; above anvil, MARCH 28 · 1925; scroll inscribed with WALTER E. FREW

The edge is marked GORHAM CO FOUNDERS OFCI

The medallion celebrates the 75th anniversary of Lehman Brothers, a finance firm whose storied career came to an infamous end in 2008 when its bancruptcy declaration triggered a global financial crisis. In 1925, the year of this medallion's issue, Lehman Brothers had just added its first non-family partner and was rapidly becoming one of the premier investment banks of the world. Often working in conjunction with Goldman Sachs, they brought such giants as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Woolworth, Gimbel Bros., R. H. Macy, Studebaker and Goodrich Co. to market.

This particular medallion is inscribed to Walter E. Frew (1864-1941), who was Chairman of the Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Company from 1929 to his death in 1941. Lehman Brothers handled a large stock issuance for the company and this medallion was probably given to him as a deal memento.

Arthur Lee was called upon again twenty-five years later to create a medallion for Lehman's 100th anniversary. That later version was smaller but shared this medallion's general design, with the exception of different dates and a slightly different legend on the reverse. It was manufactured by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The circular medallion measures 122mm in diameter and was cast in bronze and gold-plated by the Gorham Company of Providence, RI.

The obverse bears head of a Jersey cow facing left. Around, · AMERICAN · JERSEY · CATTLE · CLVB ·; below, ORGANIZED 1868 / CHARTERED 1880; signed under head, (GK monogram)

The reverse bears idyllic scene with three Jersey calves on pasture, sun rising on horizon. Around, · OMNIS · PECVNIAE · PECVS · FVNDAMENTVM ·; inscribed, SOPHIE'S HANNAH / R. OF M. 1925

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. 14K

The American Jersey Cattle Association, as it is known today, was founded in 1868. It is the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States. The services it provides to today's dairy business owners include animal identification and recording, production testing and type appraisal, and genetic evaluations.

This medal is not part of Dick Johnson's excellent reference on American medals. It combines the obverse and reverse from two other medals that Kawamura designed for the Jersey Cattle Club. Kawamura's entire medallic work is cattle-related.

The medal measures 35mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver, and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.