All Medals

References:   CoF 9, Marqusee 327

References:   CoF 7

The uniface medal bears kneeling hunter, facing right, in pose of arrow just released Between hunter's face and bow, SAGI- / TTARIUS; at lower left, in tiny letters, © 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.

Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Sagittarius and spans 240–270th degrees of the zodiac. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits this sign between approximately November 23 and December 21. Greek mythology associates Sagittarius with the centaur Chiron, who mentored Achilles in archery.

Along with Aries and Leo, Sagittarius is a part of the Fire Trigon. Its ruling planet is Jupiter.

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

References:   MACo 1967-151-012

The obverse bears a sower scattering seeds under a stylized sun. Above, WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH; in exergue, LAWRIE / ©

The reverse bears a sickle poised over a wheat ear and a nettle. Across, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP

Lee Lawrie was fascinated by the sower and reused this motif time and again in many projects. Originally conceived for the Nebraska State Capital, where it adorns the dome in the form of a giant statue, he also used it on the Rockefeller Center in New York. In the artist's own words:

"All of us are sowers, and we should not expect life to yield much in return for little, or little for nothing, or anything at all for the mere wishing - either in a material or in a higher, abstract way."

This medal was chosen as the fifth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1932. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity is 1,617 pieces in bronze and 35 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-005, Marqusee 241, SoM 5

The medal's obverse bears bust of Adam Eckfeldt facing right. Around, ADAM ECKFELDT CHIEF COINER U.S. MINT 1814 1839; signed under truncation, FURST. F.

The reverse bears legend, A / FAREWELL TRIBUTE / OF / AFFECTIONATE REGARD / TO / ADAM ECKFELDT / FROM HIS / FELLOW OFFICERS / OF THE / U.S.MINT / 1839

John Adam Eckfeldt (1769-1852) was a worker and official in the early days of the U.S. Mint.  A lifelong Philadelphian, Eckfeldt served as the second chief coiner of the Mint, from 1814 until 1839. Eckfeldth recommended Franklin Peale as his successor and Peale was indeed appointed. Nevertheless, Eckfeldt continued to perform the functions of chief coiner without pay until a few days before his death on February 6, 1852. After Eckfeldt's death, Peale, wrote what Taxay terms a "frantic letter" to Mint Director George N. Eckert, seeking the appointment of an assistant. Peale had spent the freed-up time designing and selling medals for private gain.

While the medal's obverse is designed by Furst, the lettering in the reverse is usually attributed to Peale.

The circular medal measures 51.9mm in diameter and was struck at the U.S. Mint. The mintage is reported to be 1 piece in gold, which was handed to Adam Eckfeldt, 6 pieces in silver, one for each of Eckfeldt's children, and 15 to 25 pieces in bronze which were given to the officers of the U.S. Mint.  This medal is usually referred to as Julian MT-18.

Many thanks to eBay'er caarascup for his permission to use the beautiful images of the silver medal.

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 obverse bears kneeling native American brave, peering into distance; behind, grain elevator, air plane, locomotive, powerline and smokestacks. Above, SURELY BUFFALO ADVANCES.

The reverse bears image of Buffalo City Hall. Above, BUFFALO CENTENNIAL; below, 1832 - 1932.

The Buffalo City Hall was completed just one year before the city's centennial. It is one of the largest and tallest municipal buildings in the United States and one of the tallest buildings in Western New York. It was designed by John Wade, chief architect, with the assistance of George Dietel. The friezes were sculpted by Albert Stewart and the sculpture executed by Rene Paul Chambellan. At a guess, one of the two also designed and modeled this medal but I can't be sure.

This medal measures 57mm (2 1/4in) in diameter.

References:   Marqusee 16

References:   MACo 1934-014

The uniface plaquette bears view of bridge  with ships and riverside industrial buildings. In exergue, COMMEMORATING / THE COMPLETION OF THE DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE / CONNECTING THE CITIES OF / 1921 - PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN - 1926; signed over exergue at left, L. HERMANT

This is the only medal Leon Hermant is known to have done.  It is a very handsome landscape rendering that makes me wish he had done some more.

The rectangular plaquette measures 81.6mm x 52.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-029