Life Saving Medals

Silver

Description

The medal's obverse bears a muscular male figure carrying an unconscious female figure in both arms. Signed above exergue at right, J. Juszko

The medal's reverse bears tree with legend across: THE BRITTON - I. BUDD / MEDAL - FOR THE / SAVING OF / HUMAN LIFE; in cartouche below, inscribed to EMMETT McSHANE

Britton I. Budd (1871-1965) was dubbed the "electric railroad magnate" of Chicago. He was Samuel Insull's right-hand man and very good at running transportation and infrastructure companies.

The medal was first awarded in 1926 but I have found newspaper articles from as late as 1952 that mention the award.

Emmett McShane was a resident of Waukegan, Illinois, and received his award in 1928. I could not ascertain the act of valor that caused him to receive this medal.

The circular medal measures 89mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References: MACo 1926-025

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 2 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	63.2mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER
diameter	63.2mm
weight	108.2g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:07

Description

The medal's obverse features a powerful, god-like figure carrying in his arms a limp body; in background, towering cloud with lightning and waves. Around, MIDLAND · UTILITIES · MEDAL; in exergue, · 1928 (AF monogram)

The reverse bears burning candle. Around, AWARDED · IN · RECOGNITION · OF / GREAT · PUBLIC · SERVICE · IN / SAVING · HUMAN · LIFE; at bottom; · TO · / ALBERT - FARMER / · 19 - 33 ·

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER

De Francisci designed this medal for the Midland Utilities Company as an award given to people who had saved a human life. The medals were expensively customized for each recipient and certainly not mass-produced.

This particular medal was awarded to Albert Farmer of Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Farmer, who worked as a railroad lineman for the Indiana Railroad Company, resuscitated the 4 year old Harry Sumner, saving him from drowning on July 31st, 1932.

The medal was first awarded in 1929. In 1933, the year in which this medal was awarded, only five life saving medal were awarded, providing an indication of the rarity of this medal.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References: Baxter 350, MACo 1928-060, Marqusee 135

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Silver
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER
diameter	64mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:37