The obverse bears a likeness of Charles Lindbergh wearing flight gear, goggles
dangling over his chest, with the inscription "CHARLES AUGUSTUS LINDBERGH"
and Frederick MacMonnies' monogram FM / 1931 / ©
The reverse bears
an allegorical scene together with the inscription "LONE EAGLE."
Lindbergh's non-stop transatlantic flight from Long Island to Paris took
place between May 20th and 21st 1927. Not only did he win $25,000 in prize money
for the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, he also captivated the
imagination of an entire generation. Upon his arrival at the airfield of Le
Bourget, just outside of Paris, a 100,000 strong crowd gave him a hero's
welcome. His achievement was commemorated in countless stamps, medals, and
commemorative issues of all kinds.
MacMonnies created this medal four years
after the flight and late in his career.
He tried to convey Lindbergh' spirit
and courage on the obverse. In MacMonnies' own words:
"To attempt
to commemorate Lindbergh's mighty achievement within the tiny compass of a
three inch medal is preposterous, and if one does not succeed in represeting even
a faint suggestion if the sublime courage that faced appaling odds - the
fascinating problem is compensation enough. In the head of Lindbergh I have tried
to catch something of the inner belief and nobility of vision of the boy, together
with the experience of the master airman."
MacMonnies likely based his
obverse design on the iconic photo of Lindbergh shown here.
This medal was
chosen as the fourth issue of the prestigious Society of
Medalists series in 1931. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, this
medal measures 73mm in diameter. The reported production quantity is 1,989 in
bronze and 250 in silver though there were two additional 32mm-diameter editions
in bronze and silver.
References: MACo 1930-001-004, Marqusee 249, SoM 4
