All Medals

The obverse bears five nude youths bearing father's bier. The youngest carries a laurel wreath. Around, IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS; at lower left, BEACH / © 1937.

The reverse bears a gaunt father carrying son's body from the battlefield as vultures circle. Around, IN WAR THE FATHERS BURY THEIR SONS.

The brochure which acommpanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"The tought of the medal is a simple, universal one when men pause to think straight; for that reason I have designed the medal as of no particular period. The Greeks probably put it most tersely, 'In Peace the Sons bury the Fathers, in War the Fathers bury the Sons.' Are our young men to be buried almost before mature manhood, under long rows of stone crosses, or are they to round out their lives and in turn be buried in reverence by their sons in peace? A thought to keep well before our vision as present war clouds again surround us."

Chester Beach put it well but what were the old and the young men to do when young men in other countries were being led towards war by their leaders?

This medal was chosen as the 16th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the reported production quantity of this medal is 941 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-016, Marqusee 51, SoM 16

The medal's obverse bears view of ziggurats and walls decorated by mythical beasts with luscious vegetation growing all around; two figures standing in entryway.

The reverse bears calendar fields integrated into overall archway design decoreated with mythical beasts. At bottom, 1999

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the best known ancient wonders but nevertheless the original location has never been definitively identified. The problem is that the ancient Babylonians used clay for construction and, between the impacts of climate and war, that material leaves almost no traces behind.

This is the second issue in a little mini series called The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World that comprised of the Medallic Art Company's annual calendar medals from 1998 to 2004.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. No mintages are reported. The medals were originally available for purchase at a price of $34.95 per bronze and $169 per silver piece.

References:   Cal MA-1999

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 obverse bears farmer with shovel, produce on shoulder, and semi-draped wife. Recessed outer border with legend, HAPPY ARE THOSE WHOM PRIVACY MAKES INNOCENT; in exergue, SW / ©

The reverese shows farrier bent over as he shoes a draft horse. Above and below, TO BE NAMELESS / IN WORTHY DEEDS / EXCEEDS AN IN- / FAMOUS HISTORY

This medal was chosen as the 34th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its reported mintage is 1,182 pieces in bronze and 60 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-034, Marqusee 389, SoM 34

The medal's obverse bears youthful figure wearing gown in gesture of invocation towards star filled sky. Across, IN ALL THESE - TURNING LIGHTS / I FIND NO - CLUE, ONLY A / MASTERLESS - NIGHT. Named, signed and dated in tiny letters at bottom, "WINTERSET" - MARSHALL DAUGHERTY - 1977

The reverse bears curled up nude male figure on circular patch in center field. Around bottom, AND IN MY BLOOD NO CERTAIN ANSWER. In tiny letters on rim of center patch, © 1976 - MARSHALL DAUGHERTY SC.

The medal is inspired by the poem "Winterset" by Carla Kappmeyer-Sherwin. 

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

This uniface plaquette shows a Japanese student, facing away towards rising sun, with arms lifted high in gesture of invocation; ocean and Japaneses buildings in background. Along left edge, Japanese characters; aling right edge, JOCHI = UNIVERSITY; signed at top right, Leo Z Moll

Sophia University, or Jochi Daigaku as it is called in Japanese, was founded by Jesuits in 1913. It began with the mission to build a bridge between Japan and the Christian West. It is located in the heart of Tokyo and still operates as a private Jesuit university bringing together the best of the Western and Asian intellectual traditions.

This handsome little plaquette came with a brochure that matched the plaquette in size. It reads:

The single Japanese is symbolic of the nation. The sun represents the light and guidance that Jochi University hopes to bring to the Country of the Rising Sun.

References:   MACo 1931-016

References:   BG 14

The medal's obverse bears eagle, about to launch itself into the air, broken chain links at its talons.

The reverse bears two-line maker's mark: TOWLE / SOM © 1977

This paperweight is part of a small series of promotional items that were manufactured in the 1970's. The obverse sides of some of the earlier, more popular Society of Medalists medals were taken and issued as paperweights. The attempt proved commercially unsuccessful.

The circular paperweight measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

References:   Baxter 273

References:   MACo 1961-019