All Medals

The medal's obverse bears Jeanne d'Arc holding banner atop high-stepping horse, facing right; angel flying at top. Around left and right, terminated by fleur-de-lis, JEANNE · / D' - ARC ·; signed and dated above exergue, PAUL MANSHIP - 1915

The reverse bears praying Jeanne d'Arc burning at the stake, hand reaching from cloud to place laurel crown on her head. Around, · · LA · VIERGE · HER-OIQUE · ET · MARTYRE · MCCCCXXXI · ·

The French inscription around the reverse's edge translates to "The heroic virgin and martyr." 

Manship made the medal to beneift the Italian War Relief Committee.  Three years earlier, in 1912, many Western countries had celebrated the 500th anniversary of Joan of Arc's birth and a lot of medals and statues had been commissioned.  Anna Hyatt Huntington had won the competition to create a heroic statue that was finally unveiled to great public acclaim in 1915. 

The Italian War Relief Fund was organized in 1915 for relieving the distress of noncombatant Italians. As always, Manship was willing to donate art to raise funds for such war-related relief efforts. This medal tied neatly into the public's fascination with the historical figure and doubled up as a not so subtle reminder that a huge conflagration had engulfed France and other parts of Europe.

The circular medal measures 74mm and was cast in bronze. It is not known how many pieces were cast. A six inch model is known to exist as well.

References:   Marqusee 255, Murtha 70

References:   Murtha 212

The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Deere,facing half right. Around, HE GAVE THE WORLD THE STEEL PLOUGH; in exergue, JOHN DEERE; signed over shoulder at left, KILENYI

The reverse bears steel plough. Around, JOHN DEERE / CENTENNIAL; in center field, 1837 / 1937

John Deere (1804-1886) is the founder of Deere & Company, better known under its brand name John Deere. Deere briefly attended Middlebury College in his homestate of Vermont before becoming the apprentice of Captain Benjamin Lawrence, a successful Middlebury blacksmith.  He started his own shop in 1826 but it failed in 1836.  In 1837 he left Vermont for Grand Detour, Illinois, and started a new shop which became the seed from which the well-known company grew.

His key invention was the steel plow, which solved the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which in turn forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.

John Deere served as President of the company till his death at the age of 82.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse depicts various refinery operations with a worker in the foreground. Around, TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY COMMEMORATING THEIR / PRODUCTION OF ONE BILLION GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE GASOLINE AT BAYTOWN REFINERY; below, DECEMBER 14, 1944 / HOUSTON, TEXAS

The reverse bears three flying fortresses dropping bombs. In lower half of field, YOUR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCING A BILLION GALLONS OF / 100 OCTANE GASOLINE HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO / THE GAINING OF AIR SUPREMACY OVER OUR ENEMIES / (signature of General H H Arnold) / GENERAL U.S. ARMY / COMMANDING GENERAL ARMY AIR FORCES

On December 14, 1945 the 14,000 employees of Humble Oil & Refining Company were honored at a ceremony celebrating the manufacture of a billion gallons of finished 100 Octane Aviation Gasoline at the company's Baytown refinery. A medal was commissioned to commemorate the event and Chambellan was chosen to design and model it.

The medal measures 62mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1944-012

The medal's obverse bears desktop computer and globe over three fields depicting activity from beneath the ocean, space, and computer circuitry; fields with transparent enamel inlays in blue, olive, and red. Around, OPENING DOORS TO NEW FRONTIERS / 2001

The reverse bears month panels on small circular fields arranged in cruciform shape; in corners the digits of the year 2 0 0 1

As the brochure that accompanied the medal describes:

"The design depicts the impact of technology on global interpersonal communication and the environment. A deep relief sculpted earth and computer image are superimposed over an enameled background of the expanding frontiers to be explored - the sea, the universe and the door to both - technology."

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal MC-2001

References:   BG 42

References:   BG 29

The medal's obverse shows Reuben as a shepherd with flock of sheep, carrying a bundle of plants.  At top left, REUBEN; signed in exergue, © E. WEISTROP - 1970

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Reuben was Jacob's first born and his name stands first in the list of the families of the tribes. Although part of the plot against his brother Joseph, it is Reuben who persuades the others not to kill Joseph and tries to rescue him.  The following quote accompanies this medal in the collector's box:

"... but by reason of thy sin, the birthright is conferred upon Joseph. ...may thy descendants be heroes in the Torah and heroes in the war."

This is the first medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-004, TToI 1