References: MACo 1971-013-016, WR 16
All Medals
This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 3 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.
material | Bronze |
---|---|
patina | Red golden bronze with light tan highlights |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE |
diameter | 44.5mm |
mintage | unknown, unlimited authorized |
material | Silver |
---|---|
edge6 | AMI .999 FINE SILVER |
diameter | 44.5mm |
weight | 61.8g |
mintage | unknown, 10000 authorized |
material | 1/10 14k Gold Filled |
---|---|
edge6 | 1/10 14kt. G.F. - 24kt Gold Finish |
diameter | 44.5mm |
mintage | unknown, 500 authorized |
This medal was chosen as the third issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1931. The obverse bears five Hopi rain dancers, two with snakes in their mouths, two distracting the snakes with eagle feathers, and one crouching to gather up snakes. In exergue, incuse HOPI; at lower right, H A macNeil
The reverse bears dancers racing from mesa onto the desert, hands full of snakes to be returned to their dens. Lightning flashes above. In exergue, incuse PRAYER FOR RAIN; at lower left, incuse ©
This medal's theme was based on bas-relief panels that MacNeil had made decades earlier after a visit to a Hopi reservation. In the brochure accompanying the medal he wrote:
"The two incidents of the Hopi Prayer for Rain on the mesas of northeastern Arizona depicted on this medal are chosen by your sculptor because of the extraordinary vital enthusiasm and power that the Indians throw into this ceremony. Having witnessed it and been thrilled by the intensity of their emotion and on further study by the complicated and perfectly natural development of this drama, I cannot help feel that in it we find a basic note underlying all religions. All these Southwest Indians, living as they do in an arid region, have developed their religion along the lines of their greatest need - water."
This is one of the SoM medals that come in several strikingly different finshes. You can scroll the medal images between variants.
Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the medal is an ovoid measuring 74mm x 70mm. The reported mintage of this medal is 1,713 medals in bronze and 25 in silver.
References: Baxter 354, MACo 1930-001-003, Marqusee 251, SoM 3
This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 5 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.
material | Bronze |
---|---|
patina | Hematite red with sea-green highlights around reliefs |
edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS THIRD ISSUE |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. |
dimensions | 74mm x 70mm |
mintage | 1713 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
material | Bronze |
---|---|
patina | Light tan with sea-green highlights |
edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS THIRD ISSUE |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. |
dimensions | 74mm x 70mm |
mintage | 1713 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
material | Bronze |
---|---|
patina | Golden bronze with tan patina |
edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS THIRD ISSUE |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. |
dimensions | 74mm x 70mm |
mintage | 1713 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
material | Bronze |
---|---|
patina | Intense sea-green patina |
edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS THIRD ISSUE |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. |
dimensions | 74mm x 70mm |
mintage | 1713 reported (for all Bronze variants) |
material | Silver |
---|---|
edge12 | THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS THIRD ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700 |
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. - .999+ PURE SILVER |
dimensions | 74mm x 70mm |
mintage | 25 reported, 700 authorized |
The medal's obverse bears George Westinghouse, facing right, bent over desk with stylus in his hand. Around top right, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE CENTENNIAL; across, 1846 / 1946
The reverse bears imagery of industries in which Westinghouse's inventions played a role arrayed around center field; from top left, flight, locomotives, power plants and industrial machines, communications, both wired and wireless. In center field, COMMEMORATING / THE LIFE AND WORK OF / GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE / WHO KNEW THE SCIENTIFIC / USE OF IMAGINATION
George Westinghouse (1846-1914) was an American entrepreneur and engineer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry, gaining his first patent at the age of 19. Westinghouse saw the potential in alternating current as an electricity distribution system in the early 1880s and put all his resources into developing and marketing it, putting him in direct competition with Edison's direct current system.
The medal's obverse was designed by Jeno Juszko whereas the reverse was designed by Rene Chambellan. Juszko was certainly more of a specialist of portraits and Chambellan excelled at machine age imagery, so that was a good co-production.
The circular medal measures 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1946-029
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 | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE |
diameter | 69.8mm |
weight | 139.2g |
mintage | unknown |
This medal's obverse bears bust of Curley facing three quarters left. Around, GOVERNOR JAMES MICHAEL CURLEY; signed above shoulder at right, Parafino / Sc.
This medal's reverse bears a summary of Curley's public service career surrounded by laurel wreath, seal of the Commonwealth at bottom. Inscription reads MEMBER / OF / BOSTON / COMMON COUNCIL / 1900 - 1901 / MASS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / 1902 - 1903 / BOARD OF ALDERMEN / 1904 - 1905 · 1906 - 1907 · 1908 - 1909 / CITY COUNCIL 1910 - 1911 / 62nd AND 63rd CONGRESS 1911- 1915 / MAYOR OF BOSTON / 1914 - 1917 · 1922 - 1925 · 1930 - 1933 / GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS / 1935 - 1936
James Michael Curley (1874-1958) was one of the most colorful Massachusetts politicians ever and a perfect example of the old-style machine politics of the first half of the 20th century. He rose from poverty to become councillor, member of the House, Mayor of Boston, and even Governor of Massachusetts.
His legendary popularity includes getting elected into public office while serving jail terms for fraud, corruption, and bribery. While the legal troubles gave him a bad reputation among the old upper class Wasps of Boston, the increasingly numerous and vocal Irish immigrant class unfailingly supported him during his career.
In one popular stunt, while Governor of Massachusetts, he appeared at the Harvard University commencement ceremony wearing silk stockings, knee britches, a powdered wig, and a three-cornered hat with flowing plume. When University marshals objected to his costume, the story goes, Curley whipped out a copy of the Statutes of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which prescribed proper dress for the occasion and claimed that he was the only person at the ceremony properly dressed, thereby endearing him to many working and middle class Yankees.
Unlike many other local politicians, James Michael Curley has not been forgotten. Curley is widely believed to have been the model for protagonist Frank Skeffington in the Edwin O'Connor novel "The Last Hurrah". Spencer Tracey portrayed Skeffington in a John Ford film based on the novel. Since Curley, every Boston mayor has been driven in a car with the license registration 576, representing the number of letters in his first, middle, and last name: James (5) Michael (7) Curley (6). The Curley family still holds Massachusetts auto registration number 5. It is owned by his step-son Richard.
The round medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is not reported.
References: MACo 1936-037
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 | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | MEDALLIC ART CO. N Y. |
diameter | 76.1mm |
weight | 183.3g |
mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears abstract shapes, possibly resembling a person.
The reverse bears lengthy legend, MANAGING PEOPLE / · To provide the climate / and resources that will enable all staff / members to advance on merit as far as their / talents and skills will take them, / without regard to age, / handicap, marital status, national origin, / race, religion, or sex · To offer / pay and benefits that are / fair and competitive · To make certain that / ideas, concerns, and problems are / identified and that two way com- / munication is effectively maintained / · To provide and environment that identifies, / encourages, and rewards excellence / and innovation · To remember / always that respect for human dignity is / fundamental to our success / (cross in circle)
I would venture the guess that the aspirational message on this medal was written by a committee. I can't help but compare and contrast it with the Lincoln medals' "malice towards none" quotes. While I like the abstract motif on the obverse, the whole medal leaves a bit of a bland taste. A medal just should not be a powerpoint presentation.
The medal measures 63.4mm x 63.5mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1976-182
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 | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | (C) MEDALLIC ART CO. - DANBURY. CT. - BRONZE |
dimensions | 63.4mm x 63.5mm |
weight | 187g |
mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears portrait of Hill facing three-quarters left. Around, MEMORIAL / JAMES JEROME HILL
The reverse bears oak wreath around inscription, SEPTEMBER 16TH / 1838 / MAY 29TH / 1916 / "ONE OF THE / WORLD'S GREATEST / BUILDERS"
James Jerome Hill (1838-1916) was born in Ontario. Blind in one eye due to a childhood bow and arrow accident, forced to leave school due to the death of his father, he amoved to Kentucky where he learned bookkeeping while working as a clerk. He started working for himself in the 1860's and gathered a lot of experience in the area of shipping and fuel supply. In 1870 he started a steam boat company and by 1879 he had navigated it into a highly profitable local monopoly. In the same year, a big bet Hill and his business partners had made three years earlier came to fruition when the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company formed from the assets of the bankrupt St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, with Hill as the general manager.
From here on Hill relentlessy expanded his railroad empire, through construction and acquisition. He personally surveyed the track for his own transcontinental railway, which was the only private transcontinental company to turn a profit. At the time of his death, his networth was an estimated $53 million, $2.5 billion in today's dollars.
The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. Neither mintage nor artist are reported.
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 | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | WHITEHEAD-HOAG |
diameter | 76.3mm |
weight | 197.3g |
mintage | unknown |
The obverse bears art deco city scape with factories and skyscrapers surrounding a giant generator building; clouds and sun rays above; house and train engines below. In exergue, * ORDER OF * / MERIT
The reverse bears large silver letter W over palm frond. Around, WESTINGHOUSE AWARD; in lower half, TO / (blank) / WHOM HIS FELLOW / MEN DELIGHT TO / HONOR
The Westinghouse Order of Merit was awarded by Westinghouse Electric Corporation as its highest form of employee recognition. Both management and technical employees were eligible to receive the award.
The cicular medallion has a diameter of 101mm. It was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is not reported.
References: MACo 1935-035, Marqusee 110
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 | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | |
diameter | 101mm |
mintage | unknown |
The medal's obverse bears bust of William Penn, facing quarter-right. Around, 1682 · ARRIVAL OF WILLIAM PENN IN AMERICA · 1932; to left and right, AETIS. 22. - 1666.; signed over shoulder at right, Kilenyi; SAMPLE stamped across figure.
The medal's reverse bears scene of William Penn shaking hands with Native American leader, tribal council seated around, forest in back.
The circular medal was struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. While quite common as a "So-called Dollar" with a diameter of 38.1mm in bronze, the silver variant is much less common and the large bronze medal has a reported mintage of only 250 pieces.
The small "So-called Dollar" variants have the numbers 461 and 462 in the Hibler & Kappen catalog of "So-called Dollars."
Many thanks to Harry Waterson for the information on mintages.
This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 3 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.
material | Bronze |
---|---|
edge6 | WHITEHEAD-HOAG |
diameter | 76.4mm |
weight | 139.5g |
mintage | 250 reported |
material | Bronze |
---|---|
diameter | 38.1mm |
mintage | unknown |
material | Sterling silver |
---|---|
diameter | 38.2mm |
mintage | unknown |
This medal's obverse bears an image of Princeton's Nassau Hall with tree framed way leading to its door. Below, AVLA NASSOVICA / MDCCCXCVI; signed in right-most tree, TSC
The medal's reverse multi-line inscription: The legend reads: DE / ISVB NVMINE / VICET / QVOD ANTEA FVIT / COLLEGIVM / NEOCAESARIENSE / NVNC ANNIS+CL+IMPLETIS / VNIVERSITAS / PRINCETONIENSIS / SAECVLVM SPECTAT / NOVVM
As the Princeton College Bulletin from December 1896 reports:
"At a meeting of the Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee held in February, 1895, it was decided to issue a memorial medal. Accordingly the work was put in the hands of Mr. Thomas Shields Clarke, of the class of 1882, to make a series of studies of Nassau Hall, which it was decided was to form the subject for the face of the medal. It was resolved that a Latin inscription should be placed on the back of the medal. Mr. Clarke completed his clay model, of nearly eleven inches in diameter, and from it made a plaster cast, which was then sent to the United States Mint in Philadelphia and reduced on a pair of dies three inches in diameter, under the superintendence of Mr. Charles E. Barber, of the engraving department of the Mint. Two proof medals were then struck in bronze and proved entirely satisfactory. The medals were then struck off, one copy in pure gold, thirty copies in silver and five hundred copies in bronze. The Mint also arranged for making cases for the medals. Each case was nearly five inches square and was lined on the inside with black velvet with a touch of orange velvet edging. The Latin inscription on the back together with the words on the face is so arranged as to bring in the College of New Jersey, Nassau Hall, Princeton University, the date 1896 and the statement of the change of title. The lettering is done in capitals of the Augustan period."
The Latin inscription on the back roughly translates to:
"What was once the College of New Jersey, now fulfills one hundred and fifty years, and as Princeton University beholds a new age."
The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver and gold by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The reported mintage is 1 piece in gold, 30 in silver and 500 in bronze. The bronze pieces originally cost $5 and the silver pieces $15.
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 | 76mm |
mintage | 500 reported |
material | Silver |
---|---|
edge6 | |
diameter | 76mm |
mintage | 30 reported |
The medal's obverse bears giant Colossus statue straddling harbor entrance with ship sailing underneath; view of harbor and island behind. Signed on left foundation, DAB
The reverse bears calendar panel on sail of Greek sailing vessel; birds in sky. At top, 2003
The Colossus of Rhodes calendar medal was the sixth issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was probably designed by Mark Frost and certainly sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand.
The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported. The bronze pieces originally sold for $34.95, the silver pieces for $169.
References: Cal MA-2003
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 | (C) 2002 MEDALLIC ART CO. DAYTON NV - BRONZE |
diameter | 76.4mm |
mintage | unknown |
material | Silver |
---|---|
edge6 | (C) 2002 MEDALLIC ART CO. DAYTON NV - .999 FINE SILVER |
diameter | 76.4mm |
weight | 330g |
mintage | unknown |