Joseph Maxwell Miller

This medal's obverse bears bust of Gibbons facing right. Around, JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS

The reverse bears a view of Baltimore Basilica above coat of arms. Around, SACERDOS · 30 · JUN · 1861 ✝ EPISCOPUS · 16 · AUG 1868 (crozier) ARCHIEPISCOPUS · 3 · OCT · 1877 ☨ CARDINALIS · 30 · JUN · 1886; to left and right of coat of arms, 1861 - 1911

James Cardinal Gibbons was only the second American to attain the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Born to Irish immigrants, he became a priest in 1861 after recovering from severe Malaria that had left him too weak to be ordained four years earlier. Gibbons was controversial on several issues. He was a strong supporter of workers' causes and was instrumental in securing papal permission for Catholics to organize in labor unions. He also took a position in support of the King of Belgium and against clergy who were complaining against exploitative colonial practices.

Mencken, often a harsh critic of Christian ministers, wrote in 1921 after the Gibbons' death:

"More presidents than one sought the counsel of Cardinal Gibbons: he was a man of the highest sagacity, a politician in the best sense, and there is no record that he ever led the Church into a bog or up a blind alley. He had Rome against him often, but he always won in the end, for he was always right."

Designed by Jenkins and modeled by Miller, this medal was issued as part of Gibbons' golden jubilee celebration where President Taft honored him for his contributions.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1911-001

The medal's obverse bears a portrait of Goodnow, facing right. Signed on truncation, M. Miller sc.

The reverse bears the Johns Hopkins University seal framed by ivy. Across lower half, TO / FRANK · JOHNSON · GOODNOW / PRESIDENT · 1914-1929 / FROM · HIS · COLLEAGUES / JUNE · 11 · 1929

Frank Johnson Goodnow (1859-1939) was an educator and legal scholar. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Amherst College and Columbia Law School. After graduation he was offered a position in the School of Political Science on the condition that he prepare himself with a year of study abroad.  He met that requirement by enrolling at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris and at the University of Berlin. After teaching for more than two decades, assisting with the drafting of a new charter for Greater New York, and drafting two consitutions for China, he became president of Johns Hopkins University in 1914. For the next fifteen years he worked on improving Johns Hopkins' financial position and finally retired in 1929.

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 1929-069