Medals by Organization or Group

The medal's obverse bears nude female figure in supplicant pose, holding up medallic object before disc and stars. Around disc, FOR · EXCELLENCE · IN · THE - ART · OF - NUMISMATIC · EXHIBITING; at bottom, · HOWLAND WOOD · / · MEMORIAL · / · AWARD ·

The medal's reverse bears central disc behind ANA seal with oak and laurel underneath. Above, · AWARDED TO ·

As you can tell, I know very little about this medal and would appreciate more information about it,

The medal's obverse bears a standing boy scout in 1940s uniform signaling with flags and a kneeling scout with binoculars. Around, BUILDING TOWARD UNITY / YOUTH OF THE SCOUT WORLD; to lower left, lamp on stack of books; below, KG monogram ©.

The reverse bears a defiant eagle striding left over chains.

Karl Gruppe wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"As this medal is issued, the threat of war is still upon us. The theme I have chosen is not peace but 'Building Toward Unity.' [...] The reverse shows an eagle freeing himself from chains of bondage. A symbol of America to Americans, a symbol of freedom to to people of other lands."

This medal was chosen as the 46th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1952.

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 762 pieces in bronze and an unknown number of pieces (from an edition limited to 700) in silver.  This is also one of the medals that had one side, in this case the reverse, used in a uniface medal produced by Towle, Inc.

References:   MACo 1930-001-046, SoM 46

The plaquette's obverse bears woman, holding spade in one hand and laurel crown in other, in midst of flowers. In exergue, GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

The reverse bears empty octagonal field for dedication above oil lamp and oak branches.

The plaquette was obviously issued by the Garden Club of America, but I don't know whether it is used as a membership plaquette or as an award.

The rectangular plaquette measures 36.8mm x 53.2mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. I know neither artist nor mintage and would appreciate information from people who know more about this handsome plaquette.

The medal's obverse bears a harnessed hackney horse, facing right. Around, AMERICAN HACKNEY / HORSE SOCIETY

The reverse bears laurel wreath, inscribed with: Awarded to / 1836 CZARINA / Exhibited by / Charles E Bunn / AT / Chicago Ill. / 1910

The medallion bears portrait of Thornton Floyd Turner, facing left. Around upper left, + THORNTON FLOYD TURNER +; signed at lower right, HUFF

The reverse bears the Turner family's crest.

Thornton Floyd Turner (1865-1919) was a clergyman and New York City architect. He practiced architecture from 1890 to 1900 and was a member of the New York Society of Beaux Arts Architects as well as the St. Nicholas Society of New York. After 1912, he was Rector at St. Peter's Church in Bennington, Vermont.

It is unclear to whom the "Huff" signature refers.

The circular medallion measures 99mm in diameter.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears pelican (?) sitting on red cross shield; cross in background.

The reverse bears legend. Around, CROIX ROUGE DE BELGIQUE; across, RECONNAISSANCE / AUX / DONNEURS DE SANG

This medal was awarded to blood donors by the Belgian Red Cross. It exists in a French and a Flemish version that differ in the language of the inscription on the reverse.

The circular medal measures 50.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. Neither artist nor mintage nor mint are known to me and I would appreciate any additional information.

The uniface medallion's obverse shows nude, winged female figure with hammer and chisel.

This medal is still awarded during the National Sculpture Society's annual exhibition.  It is awarded in Gold, Silver and Bronze, corresponding with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners. The Society's March 1, 1966 meeting minutes state that

"Charlotte Dunwiddie [Chair of the Exhibition Committee] asked to establish three medals: one gold, one silver and one bronze, as awards for the annual exhibition. After some discussion, a Motion was made, Seconded, and Carried, approving it.  The awards to be given to sculpture in the rounds, as well as to reliefs which do not fall under the other prizes for medals or small bas-reliefs.” 

In 1978, Bruno Mankowski won the Gold Medal for his 32" high bronze “Seated Figure.”

The medal bears the NSS' old logo (it was changed in 2015).  The logo is based on the sculpture ‘Into the Unknown’ by Hermon Atkins MacNeil which can be admired in the sculpture park at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. While MacNeil cannot possibly have sculpted the medal, his sculpture is certainly the inspiration for the design.  I do not know whether he converted it to a medallic design himself or whether another sculptor did that after his death.

The medallion measures 98.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported. Many thanks to Elizabeth Helms from the NSS for her assistance in documenting this beautiful medallion.

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