All Medals

The medal's obverse bears three female figures representing Friendship, Love, and Truth, under masonic eye of providence. Old man at lower left is lent a helping hand while young woman at lower right holds up her baby begging for help. On streamer at bottom, FRIENDSHIP LOVE AND TRUTH

The reverse bears IO.OF / GRAND NATIONAL / CELEBRATION / OF THE / FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / PHILADELPHIA / APRIL 23 1869

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England. At that time, the city was suffering both a yellow fever epidemic and mass unemployment so they dedicated the organization to "Visit the sick, relieve the distress, bury the dead and educate the orphans."

The circular medal measures 51mm in diameter.  No mintage is known.
 

References:   MACo 1971-013-013, WR 13

References:   MACo 1912-G1

The medal's obverse bears female figure and Hermes with caduceus gazing at building; laurels and open scroll at their feet. In exergue, NEW CENTRE MARKET / NEWARK, N.J. / 1923; signed at left edge, KILENYI

The medal's reverse bears city view with cranes and steam shovel in foreground. In exergue, CLIFFORD F. MACEVOY CO. / BUILDERS / NEWARK, N.J.; signed just indside raised rim at 8 o'clock, J. Hansen

The revere was sculpted by V. Joan Hansen, an in-house designer for Newman, and was later reused for the 1925 Chicago Union Station Construction Insurance Medal.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the J. F. Newman Company of New York. While no mintage is reported, Harry Waterson estimates it to be around 500 because the medal was a present at a dinner with 500 invited guests.  A bronze uniface variant with a diameter of 62.9mm exists in unknown mintage.

The medal's obverse bears historical trademark of stag leaping over log, radiant background pattern. As part of trademark design, JOHN DEERE / MOLINE, ILL.; on log, TRADEMARK; on small panel below, HISTORICAL TRADEMARK / 1876

The reverse bears calendar panel on stylized front view of tractor's cooler grill with John Deere logo above; large profile wheels to each side. In exergue, 1984

John Deere is the brand name of Deere & Company. The company grew from a blacksmith shop in Grand Detour, Illinois, which Deere had opened in 1837 after escaping bankruptcy in his hometown of Rutland, Vermont. He invented the steel plow, solving the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.

The company logo that is on the medal's obverse was used between 1876 and 1912, coinciding roughly with Charles Deere's reign of the company. He died in 1907 and was succeeded by his son-in-law William Butterworth.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal JD-1984

The plaquette's obverse bears Robert Louis Stevenson, standing, facing slight left. Across, HERE DWELT / ROBERT-LOUIS-STEVENSON / DURING THE WINTER 1887-1888 / -.- / "I was walking in the verandah / of a small house outside the / hamlet of Saranac. It was / winter; the night was very / dark; the air clear and cold / and sweet woth the purity / of forests. For the making / of a story here were fine / conditions. / "COME' SAID I / TO MY ENGINE, 'LET US / MAKE A TALE.'" / The Gensis of Ballantrae / -.- / Here he wrote "The Master / of Ballantrae," "A Christmas Sermon," "The Lantern Bearers," "Pulvis at Umbra." / "Beggars" "Gentlemen" "A Chapter on Dreams"  Two conjoined wreaths with birth 1850 and death year 1894 inscribed. Signed at bottom right, Gutzon Borglum / 1916

The reverse just bears three lines of legend, THE STEVENSON SOCIETY, / OF AMERICA INC. / SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (1850–1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. His most famous works are Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and A Child's Garden of Verses.

The rectangular plaquette measures 60.1mm x 95.9mm ans was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1916-003

The plaque bears pegasus, facing left, with rider looking backwards towards large camera with tripod he holds in left arm; city below.

I only wish that my budget allowed me to own this beautiful Art Deco plaque. Cecere created a small masterpiece, probably for a studio or as an award plaque, but I have no details about it.  Any information on it would be welcome.

The rectangular cast bronze plaque measures 267mm x 342mm.

A heartfelt thank-you to Bob Jaeger from Renaissance Man Antiques for permission to use this image.

The medal's obverse bears legend only. Around, ROCKWELL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (star); across, 1980 / OFFICIAL / CORPORATE / SEAL

The reverse bears rectangular calendar panel with 1980 above.

This totally uninspired medal is a great example of a collectible medal that is not an art medal. The Rockwell Society issued calendar medals for many years and they only differ in the year and the calendar details.

Dick Johnson attributes this medal to Marcel Jovine. While I believe his research, that indicates to me that Marcel Jovine must either have been in desperate need of money or the Rockwell Society granted him no artistic freedom at all.

I only included this medal in my collection because it provides a great example of a "bread-and-butter" medal, both in general and in particular for calendar medals.

The circular medal measures 64.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal MC-2000-2