Charles Cushing Wright

The medal's obverse bears bust of Washington Allston, facing right.  Around left and right, WASHINGTON - ALLSTON; signed at bottom, P. P. DUGGAN DEL.  C. C. WRIGHT SC.

The reverse bears standing Columbia with American shield, crowning two artists, one holding sculptor's mallet, the other painter's pallet and brushes, on step below. Around top, AMERICAN - ART-UNION; signed and dated on steps, P.P. DUGGAN DEL. / 1847 - C.C. WRIGHT SC.

Washington Allston (1779-1843) was a famous American painter and poet who was born in Waccamaw River, South Carolina. After traveling a lot, he spent most of his later life in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He is buried in Harvard Square. A western suburb of Boston, Allston, is named after him.

This was the first medal in the American Art-Union medal series.

The circular medal measures 64.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze at the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to eBayer Pat who granted me permission to use the images of the silver variant and to Tom Rogahn who pointed them out to me.

References:   AAU 1, Storer 1860, Marqusee 409

The medal's obverse bears bust of Gilbert Stuart, facing left. Around left and right, GILBERT - STUART. Signed under truncation, C.C. WRIGHT F.; at lower edge,  S. ELLIS DEL.

The reverse bears Columbia with American shield on steps crowning two artists, one a painter holding a pallet and brushes, one a sculptor cradling a mallet in the crook of his arm. Around left and right, AMERICAN - ART-UNION; signed and dated on steps, P.P.D.D - C.C.W.F. - 1848

Gilbert Charles Stuart (1755-1828) was an American painter, best known for his portraits. He was born in Rhode Island but practiced his art in Newport, New York, Philadelphia and finally in Boston.  He is buried in the Old South Burial Ground of the Boston Common.

This was the second medal issued by the American Art-Union.

The circular medal measures 64.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, white metal, and silver at the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported for any variant but it is believed that the one silver piece that is known (Stacks & Bowers, Americana Auction 2005) might be unique.

References:   AAU 2, Storer 2042, Marqusee 401

The medal's obverse bears bust of Will Page, facing right. Around left and right, WILL - PAGE; signed and dated around bottom, C.C. WRIGHT FEC. - 1848 - S ELLIS DEL.

The reverse bears painter's pallet with brushes. Above, BORN ALABANY N.Y. JAN 25 1811; signed below pallet, C. C. Wright F.

William Page (1811-1885) was an American Painter and portrait artist. Originally born in Albany, his family moved to New York City when he was nine and he soon apprenticed with James Herring and Samuel Morse. He was widely praised during his lifetime but his reputation suffered after his death because he changed styles frequently and his paintings tended to darken excessively with time.

This medal's obverse might well have been intended for the fourth American Art-Union issue. Unfortunately, changes in law prevented the Art-Union from continuing with its lottery model beyond 1849.

The circular medal measures 47.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Brevet Colonel James Duncan,r., die crack runniing through bust from approx. 11 o'clock to 5 o'clock. Around, PALO ALTO, RESACA DE LA PALMA, MONTEREY, VERA CRUZ, CERRO GORDA, SAN ANTONIO.; to left and right of bust, BREVET COL. - JAMES DUNCAN. Signed under truncation, C.C. WRIGHT SC.; and at bottom, S. ELLIS DEL.

The reverse bears legend only. Around, CITY OF MEXICO, GARITA BELEN, GARITA COSME, CHAPULTEPEC, MOLINA DEL REY, CHERUBUSCO.; across, PRESENTED BY / THE CITIZENS OF N.YORK / TO / BREVT. COL. JAMES DUNCAN / OF THE / UNITED STATES ARMY / DEC. 28TH. 1848.

James Duncan (d. 1849) graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1834. Two years later, he served in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians and commanded an artillery company during the war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848. His heroics in the latter conflict caught the attention of army officials, and Duncan rose rapidly from captain to colonel. In late 1848, President James Polk appointed Colonel Duncan inspector general of the United States Army.

The medal was given to him just before his first tour of inspection when he visited New York. He died only months later from Yellow Fever which he contracted from troopers in Mobile, Alabama.

The circular medal measures 53.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported, but the large die crack would argue for a small production run.

The medal's obverse bears bust of John Trumbull. Around left and right, JOHN - TRUMBULL; signed on truncation, at bottom, B. HUGHES DEL.

The reverse bears Columbia with American shield on steps crowning two artists, one a painter holding a pallet and brushes, one a sculptor cradling a mallet in the crook of his arm. Around left and right, AMERICAN - ART-UNION; signed and dated on steps, P.P.D.D - C.C.W.F. - 1849

John Trumbull (1756-1843) was an American painter and is often referred to as "The painter of the Revolution."  His painting of the Declaration of Independence was used on the reverse side of the bicentennial $2 bill.  He served in the Revolutionary War as an aide to George Washington, a position from which he resigned in a dispute over his commission date.

This was the third and last medal issued by the American Art-Union. 

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the U.S. Mint.  No mintages are reported but the silver variant is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of pieces known to exist.

References:   AAU 3, Marqusee 404