Medals Related to Mythology

This medal's obverse bears Mercury at left, cornucopia at his feet, gazing upon industrious scene with modern jet, ship, and bales and barrels. Around, 125TH ANNIVERSARY S.E.L. MADURO & SONS, INC. - 1837 - CURACAO · N · A · ~ 1962

The reverse bears front facing bust of founder before seascape with anchor to his left and dolphin to his right. Around, S · E · L · MADURO FOUNDER - · 24TH JANUARY 1837 ·

The company was established by Salomon Elias Levy Maduro in 1837. He started his own ship's agency and bunkering services company in the port of Curacao. During the years that followed his sons joined him in the business. Under the name of S.E.L. Maduro & Sons it evolved into a holding company with interests in real estate, travel and leisure activities, and a variety of services related to the shipping and transportation industry.

This medal is a reprise of a 1937 medal, also designed by Ruotolo, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of S.E.L. Maduro.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1961-079

The uniface medal bears nude, almost cherubic twins, each facing towards an edge with their bodies but heads turned towards each other, arms interlocked at center; bold geometric border around.  Across, GEM -INI; at bottom,  © MACO 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits this sign between May 21 and June 21. Gemini is represented by the twins Castor and Pollux. The symbol of the twins is based on the Dioscuri, one mortal and one immortal, that were granted shared half-immortality after the death of the mortal brother (Castor).

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-006

The medal's obverse bears astronaut on spacewalk, connected to capsule by coiling umbilical. Around, THe CONQUEST OF SPACE; signed at lower right, Calle/DiLorenzo © 1971

The reverse bears male figure with unraveling wings, looking backwards at massive sun with rays covering entire background. Around top, MAN'S DREAM

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1971-086

References:   MACo 1972-021

The medal's obverse bears large gear wheel with French head in center. Across, MEDALLIC / ART / COMPANY / DANBURY / CONNECTICUT; several workers putting finishing touches on lettering and gear; one holding a large tablet with artist's signature, F. Eliscu

The medal's reverse bears winged steed fighting with muscular nude male figure trying to bind him.

The reverse illustrates the story of how Bellerophon tamed Pegasus with a golden bridle handed to him by the goddess Athena.

The circular medal measures 73.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to everyone in the Numismatics Department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generosity and support with making this medal available to me for research.

References:   MACo 1973-001

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure raising his arms towards massive sun dominating the upper half of the medal. In sun's disk, APOLLONIAN

The reverse bears nude Dionysus dancing with grapes and tankard, streamer with DIONYSIAN curling around. Signed and dated by artist, (MHD monogram) / 1976 ©

The circular medal measures 64.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze bt Art Medals, Inc. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 6

References:   BG 7

References:   BG 9

The medal's obverse bears Pan playing pipes over a skull. Around, INGENITA LEVITAS (levity is inborn); below, signature JC in a square. The reverse bears a man holding a mirror or mask. Around, ET ERUDITA VANITAS (and vanity is learned); below signature JC in a square.

In the 1980's Cook was slowly drifting towards darker subject matter and the skull on this medal is a precursor of things to come. By 1987 his FIDEM catalog entry stated that "his works represent an exploration into various images and manifestations of death."

In 1982 he was still transitioning and wrote in the medal's brochure:

"This brief couplet from Cicero's Pro Flacco presents a profound opposition of the dionysian and appollonian aspects of man's nature. Being deeply moved both by the wit and the simple beauty employed in the fusing together of thse diverse elements, I have tried in sculptural terms to achieve a like coupling."

This medal was chosen as the 105th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1982. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. The reported mintage is 750 pieces in bronze.

References:   MACo 1930-001-150, SoM 105