All Medals

References:   Cal FM-1994

The medal's obverse bears seated female figure, arm raised in appeal to standing female figure. Around, NON SCHOLAE SED VITAE; signed at bottom, H. Schuler 1914

The reverse bears open book with rose across. In central bar, PEABODY MEDAL; inscrobed and dated at top and bottom, DOROTHY HOWARD / 1925

The Latin phrase "NON SCHOLAE SED VITAE" is the short form of a phrase that first appeared in Seneca's letters. It roughly translates to "We do not learn for school, but for life."

The Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1857 and is the oldest conservatory in the United States.

References:   MACo 1914-003

The medal's obverse bears Mercury opening the canal locks for ship Argo. Around, · TO · COMMEMORATE · THE · OPENING · OF · THE · PANAMA · CANAL · M · C · M · X · V; at bottom left, "ON! / SAIL ON!"; signed at bottom right, AITKEN / FECIT

The medal's reverse bears two female figures, representing the two Americas, sharing cornucopias; globe in center, flying birds below. Around, · PANAMA · PACIFIC · INTERNATIONAL · EXPOSITION · SAN · FRANCISCO · CALIFORNIA · M · C · M · X · V ·

The circular medal measures 38mm in diameter and was struck in different materials. They are all "So-called Dollars."  The bronze variant is known as HK-400, the gold-plated one as HK-401.

Many thanks to Eugene and Lu Anne Freeman who granted me permission to use images from their eBay store.

References:   HK 399,400,401

References:   MACo 1926-016, Marqusee 198

The medal's obverse bears William Morton and Hans Hendrik, dressed in cold-weather gear, standing on desolate, rocky shore with Morton pointing at the open sea.

The reverse is coated with a smooth layer of lead.

In 1845 through 1848 Sir John Franklin led the British North-West Passage Expedition to search for a northern ocean passage around the American continent.  Two ships with 129 sailors vanished and their fate remained undetermined years later.  The first Grinnell Expedition was launched in 1850 under the command of Edwin de Haven. While they were successful in locating Franklin's first winter camp, they ultimately had to turn around without having fulfilled their mission of dertmining Franklin's fate.

The Second Grinnell Expedition of 1853-1855 was led by Dr. Elisha Kane, who had already been a member of the first Grinnell expedition. The expedition soon became ice-locked and could not continue but they sent out an exploration team consisting of William Morton and Eskimo guide Hans Hendrik. The two traveled by dog sled and reported that they had found open water, the long sought open polar sea. 

Three expedition members died during the return trip and Kane himself never fully recovered from the ordeal. He died in 1857 after having traveled to England to deliver his report to Sir John Franklin's widow.

Tiffany & Co. fashioned a gold medal that was awarded to Kane by the State of New York upon the expedition's return. A silver medal and several coppery bronze medals were also struck.  The bronze medals are always composed from two halves that are joined by lead solder.

The piece depicted here is the obverse half of one of these medals that was obviously never assembled. 

The circular medal (half) measures 80.2mm in diameter and was struck in coppery bronze by Tiffany & Co. of New York.  While no mintage is reported, this medal is extremely rare.

The obverse bears herm-type male bust facing upward against massive stylized wings. Around, ALL - PASSES ART ALONE ENDURING STAYS TO US; in lower left field, THE BUST / OUTLASTS / THE / THRONE; in exergue, THE COIN TIBERIUS; at left, incuse, R.H.RECCHIA / ©

The reverse bears nude youth leaping with outstretched arms into starry sky; hills clouds, and rays in background. Around, TOO LOW THEY BUILD WHO - BUILD BENEATH THE STARS

This medal is one of the two war-time SOM medals that were originally struck in silver because copper was largely dedicated to war needs. Apparently, 57 50mm-diameter pieces were struck in bronze but even long-time collectors have not seen any. Some were later struck in the 1970's.

Recchia drew his own inspiration for this medal from poetry, namely Austin Dobson's "Ars Victrix' for the quotes on the obverse and Edward Young's "Night Thoughts" on the reverse. Recchia wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The bust ... shows the man's mind stretching upwards, to and beyond the flight of the wings of imagination and passing time and depicting man's dreams of seeking higher realms of inspiration."

Recchia's combined message was devoid of war-time propaganda and very humanistic at its core. Or maybe the very fact that it was so humanistic made it a very effective war-time message for an audience that was fighting for the survival of western civilization.

On a personal note, this is the medal that inspired me to become a medal collector when I first saw it on display at the Yale University Art Gallery. To this day, it remains one of my favorite art medals.

This medal was chosen as the 29th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1944. It was first produced in 50mm and was struck in silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. OVerall, the reported production quantity of this medal is 891 small-diameter silver, 57 small-diameter bronze, 150 large-diameter bronze, and 100 large-diameter silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-029, Marqusee 329, SoM 29

The medal's obverse bears Saint Bernard, facing left. Above, SAINT BERNARD; below, AKC RECOGNITION 1885; signed at left, R. J. BROWN

The reverse bears Westminster Kennel Club's coat of arms. Around, THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL FOUNDATION

This is one of four medal issued by the Westminster Kennel Foundation featuring different dog breeds.  The other three are Poodle, Beagle, and Irish Setter. The date on the obverse represents the year in which the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1973-208-004

The medal's obverse bears Queen Astrid, facing left. Signed at bottom right, G. DEVREESE

The reverse bears cross in center field. Around, · LA CROIX ROUGE · / RECONNAISANCE

An identical portrait to the one on the obverse appears on a larger medal commemorating Queen Astrid's death, dated 1935.  I would date this medal to about the same time period but would appreciate a Belgian medal or Devreese specialist's opinion on this.

The circular medal measures 45mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Jules Fonson and Company. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears muscular, nude male figure in flight, caduceus in outstretched hand, mortar and pestle in other. Across, Science - for the / world's - well-being / CHAS. PFIZER & CO., INC.; signed under legend, PHIILIPS, SC.

The reverse bears view of research facility in wooded landscape. Around, PFIZER MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES; in exergue, DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH / IN THE SERVICE OF / MEDICINE AND MANKIND / OCTOBER 6, 1960

The medal's obverse was designed by Thomas Philips and the reverse by Joseph di Lorenzo.

The medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1960-066

The medal's obverse bears the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, depicting Zeus seated on a throne, holding a scepter in his left hand and a figure of Victory; priests at his feet provide a measure of scale.

The reverse bears calendar panel in three columns surrounded by twelve scenes depicting Heracles' Labors. At top of middle panel, 2001

Heracles was Zeus' mortal son who is said to have established the Olympic Games to honor his father. Heracles' Twelve Labors are a series of episodes concerning a penance carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. They were accomplished over 12 years at the service of King Eurystheus.

The medals were originally offered for a price of $34.95 per bronze piece and $169.00 per silver piece.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in antiqued bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayon, Nevada. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-2001