Medallic Art Collector's Selection

The medal's obverse features a powerful, god-like figure carrying in his arms a limp body; in background, towering cloud with lightning and waves. Around, MIDLAND · UTILITIES · MEDAL; in exergue, · 1928 (AF monogram)

The reverse bears burning candle. Around, AWARDED · IN · RECOGNITION · OF / GREAT · PUBLIC · SERVICE · IN / SAVING · HUMAN · LIFE; at bottom; · TO · / ALBERT - FARMER / · 19 - 33 ·

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER

De Francisci designed this medal for the Midland Utilities Company as an award given to people who had saved a human life. The medals were expensively customized for each recipient and certainly not mass-produced.

This particular medal was awarded to Albert Farmer of Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Farmer, who worked as a railroad lineman for the Indiana Railroad Company, resuscitated the 4 year old Harry Sumner, saving him from drowning on July 31st, 1932.

The medal was first awarded in 1929. In 1933, the year in which this medal was awarded, only five life saving medal were awarded, providing an indication of the rarity of this medal.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   Baxter 350, MACo 1928-060, Marqusee 135

The medal's obverse bears muscular nude male figure in dynamic flying pose, cradling globe in sling made from cable loops. Around top edge, SAMVEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE MEDAL; signed below feet at right, (LGF monogram)

The medal's reverse bears sextant over compass rose in center, fleur-de-lis and two shrouded nudes at top. Around, AMERICAN - N - GEOGRAPHICAL · SOCIETY ·

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was a successful portrait painter before he became world-famous by contributing significantly to the the invention of a single-wire telegraph system. He was the co-inventor of the still used Morse code and spent the second phase of his life in telegraphy-related pursuits. His role as telegraphy's inventor and near-monopolist was challenged several times and while his achievements were never denied, the scope of his patents was eventually limited by the famous O'Reilly v. Morse Supreme Court decision.

The Samuel Finley Breese Morse Medal was established as an award in 1902. The medal is awarded by the American Geographical Society for "achievements and pioneering in geographical research." The AGS itself was founded in 1851 by 31 wealthy New Yorkers in response to the request of Lady Franklin to search for her husband and his voyagers lost in the Polar Franklin Expedition.

The circular medallion measures an impressive 101.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for sending me the images of this beautiful medal.

References:   MACo 1928-021

References:   MACo 1929-003

The obverse bears vital male bust right, cartwheel border with incuse FAITH IN MAN AND HIS WORKS; signed on right, Avard / Fairbanks / Sc / 1929

The reverse bears sculptor-craftsman gazing at bank. Around, THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK - PORTLAND OREGON; under bank, A POWER / LIKE THAT OF A / MIGHTY GENIE WHO / STANDS READY TO / BUILD INDUSTRIES / AND TEMPLES / AT THE CALL OF / MAN'S WILL.

This medal is a beautiful if misplaced expression of optimism in the nation's banks. It was issued in 1929, the year of Black Tuesday, the gigantic stock market crash that signaled the beginning the Great Depression. American faith in a better future took a severe beating and it was a long time before such unbridled optimism would reappear in medallic art.

This medal measures 70.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1929-055

References:   MACo 1930-022

The obverse bears a large bust of John Endecott, facing right. Above, JOHN ENDECOTT; across, MASSACHU - SETTS BAY / TERCEN - TENARY; below 1588 (flower) 1665. The reverse bears the image of the famous Endecott pear tree. Above, GOVERNOR'S GARDEN; accross, SA - L - EM / 16 - 30 / ORCHARD - FARM / 16 - 32; signed LGF below.

John Endecott was born in 1588 in Chagford, England. He was an English colonial magistrate, soldier and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During all of his years in the colony but one, he held some form of civil, judicial, or military high office. He died in Boston on March 15, 1665. The tree on the medal's reverse refers to the Endecott Pear Tree in Danvers, Massachusetts. John Endecott planted the tree in 1633 and it is alive and bears fruit to this day.

Approximately 200 of these large, 100mm diameter bronze medals were struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1930-026, Marqusee 171

This medal was chosen as the 2nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The obverse bears a grape-crowned, bearded god of wine over shallow, two-handled kylix. Around, in two lines, HAIL - TO - DIONYSUS - WHO - FIRST - DISCOVERED / THE - MAGIC - OF - THE - GRAPE. The reverse bears youthful satyrs trampling grapes. Below, signed © / .P.MANSHIP 1930.

Manship's medal proved to be highly controversial and thus provided much needed publicity for the still young Society of Medalists. America was still nominally observing Prohibition and at least one member is reported to have resigned over this "glorification of wine."

The medal measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck a reported 1,950 medals in bronze and 50 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-002, Marqusee 256, Murtha 265, SoM 2

References:   MACo 1930-053

The obverse bears a bust (l.) of Richard Byrd wearing aviator's goggles emerging from a bank of clouds. Across, COMMEMORATING THE CONQUEST OF THE POLES / BY REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD / AND HIS ASSOCIATES / PRESENTED BY / THE AERONAUTICAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF AMERICA; along bottom edge, MAY 9 1926 - NOVEMBER 29 1929.

The reverse bears eagle perched on airborne Ford tri-motor; polar scene below, Signed at bottom right, KILENYI.

The bronze medal measures 82.4mm (3.25") in diameter and was struck by Whitehead & Hoag. During the presentation banquet one gold medal was given to Admiral Byrd, his associates received silver medals, and all other guests received bronze medals. The mintage is 1,000 pieces in bronze, 65 in silver-plate and 1 in 10kt gold. 

According to Harry Waterson, the undisputed Kilenyi specialist, a piece in sterling silver might exist. It might be that an initial production run or a sample piece was struck in sterling silver but then, due to the Great Depression, subsequent pieces were struck in much less cheaper silver-plated base metal.  Any updates on this question would be highly welcome.

References:   Marqusee 217

This uniface plaquette shows a Japanese student, facing away towards rising sun, with arms lifted high in gesture of invocation; ocean and Japaneses buildings in background. Along left edge, Japanese characters; aling right edge, JOCHI = UNIVERSITY; signed at top right, Leo Z Moll

Sophia University, or Jochi Daigaku as it is called in Japanese, was founded by Jesuits in 1913. It began with the mission to build a bridge between Japan and the Christian West. It is located in the heart of Tokyo and still operates as a private Jesuit university bringing together the best of the Western and Asian intellectual traditions.

This handsome little plaquette came with a brochure that matched the plaquette in size. It reads:

The single Japanese is symbolic of the nation. The sun represents the light and guidance that Jochi University hopes to bring to the Country of the Rising Sun.

References:   MACo 1931-016