The medal's obverse bears stylized compass rose and Greek cross dividing the heads of European (NW), Asian (NE), American Indian (SW), and African (SE). Around, PROCLAIMING LIBERTY EVERY ONE TO HIS BROTHER
The reverse bears a northern polar projection of the world map, resembling the UN emblem. Around, NO MAN IS AN ISLAND ENTIRE OF ITSELF - EVERY MAN IS A PIECE OF THE CONTINENT; at left, JOHN DONNE 1575-1631; at right, © M.H.
Malvina Hoffman traveled the globe for several years to create a display for the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-34. The plan was to make precise sculptures of all "The Races of Mankind." Malvina Hoffman ended up casting 97 bronze sculptures for the exhibit, which remained a major attraction for the Field Museum for many decades.
This design by Hoffman was chosen as the 51st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series and picked up on her earlier work. She wrote in her "From the Artist"
"The thought prompting the design and quotations on this medal is the ever timely problem: how the races of the world can learn to understand one another."
The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 722 pieces in bronze. The number of pieces in silver is not reported but the edition was limited to 700.
References: MACo 1930-001-051, SoM 51