bears

The obverse bears polar bear on floe, flying snow geese behind. In upper field, ARCTIC; around, * GREELY * BARTLETT * PEARY * BYRD *

The reverse bears group of four penguins on ice. Around, * PALMER * WILKES * BYRD * ELLSWORTH *; below, ANTARCTIC / E.F.S / ©

Springweiler described his thoughts in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"In creating this medal I was thinking of another world, a silent and cruel one, the regions around the poles of our globe, the endless icewastes, the land of midnight sun."

While stressing the barren and cruel nature of the polar reaches, he praised the men who had set out to explore them and commemorated their names on the medal.

This medal was chosen as the 24th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1941. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its mintage is reported to be 999 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-024, Marqusee 369, SoM 24

The medal's obvseres bears view of mountain populated by all kinds of wildlife; bear dominates left, waiting for salmon running upstream; in background, moose, beaver, ,squirrel, deer, bighorn sheep and eagle. Signed at lower right, EVERHART

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by two bighorns, squirrels on meadow at bottom. At top, 1995

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The bronze medals originally cost $34.95 and the silver medals $169.  No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1995