All Medals

The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Isidore Konti facing left. Around, ····· ISIDORE · KONTI ····· SCULPTOR ····· MCMXV

The reverse bears figures of old, toga-wearing man and boy holding lyre walking together towards right; bird behind them, sun above, all within beaded border. Around, · GUIDE · PHIL-OSOPHER · AND · FRIEND ·; signed under arm of older man at right, ·PAUL· / ·MAN / SHIP·

Isidore Konti (1862-1938) was a Vienna-born (of Hungarian parents) sculptor. He began formal art studies at the age of 16 when he entered the Imperial Academy in Vienna, where he studied under Edmund von Hellmer.  Konti moved to the United States sometime in the early 1890s where his skills were much in demand during the great international exhibitions.

Konti took the young Manship under his wings when he moved from Philadelphia to New York, right after he had finished his studies with Charles Grafly at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In the years from 1908 to 1909 Manship worked as Konti's assistant. Konti encouraged him to submit his work and Manship became the youngest artist to win the American Prix de Rome. This set the stage for studies in Italy and Greece, and firmed up Manship's everlasting devotion to classical themes.

The circular medallion measures 90mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. The number of cast pieces is not known.

References:   Murtha 64

References:   Baxter 272

References:   BG 26

The medal's obverse bears American eagle holding arrows and olive branch in its talons forming body of medal over crossed fasces. At top, ball and cartouche inscribed with VALOR

The reverse bears a scroll for dedication and two protruding bearings, unholed.

While similar to the other decoration designs, this one lacks the cannons, probably meaning that it was intended as a valor decoration applying to the entire armed services rather than just the Army.

It is unknown whether Manship created this design for a commission, a design competition, or independently from a sense of patriotic fervor. Manship certainly was a fierce patriot who did what he could to support the war effort. The exact date for this design is also not known but one of the other designs, an Army Valor decoration, has a sample date of 1918 inscribed on the reverse.  They all date roughly to the end of World War I, probably 1918 or 1919.

The cast bronze measures approximately 91.4mm x 92mm and weighs 341.2g.

The medal's obverse bears a nude with lyre in front of Pegasus; signed GAETANO CECERE 1931.

The reverse bears a grouping of transmission towers, lightning bolts, and wings, surrounded by wreathes and text in concentric circles. Legend reads FOR DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION TO THE RADIO ART | OVER THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM.

The medal was awarded "for Distinguished Contribution to Radio" and by 1934 only six people had received it. They were: Colonel Charles Lindbergh, Sir John A. Reith, director general of the BBC, Leopold Stokowski, conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Amelia Earhart, Nino Martini, Metropolitan Opera tenor, and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Antarctic explorer.

The medal is part of many museum collections, including the Smithsonian Institute, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cornell University Library, which has a beautiful image online.

The circular medallion's diameter is 102mm and it was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1931-017, Marqusee 104

The plaque's obverse bears nude Mercury, head turned towards left. He is soaring above sea, moon and star to his left, sun to his right. Signed around bottom right, ARTHUR LEE

I do not know much about this plaque. It appears to be an "unbranded" design of the Lehman Anniversary medallion's obverse. I would guess that this is a design that was created prior to Lehman Brothers' medallic commission and was then modified in accordance with customer requirements.

The subtly oval plaque measures 111.2mm x 115.7mm and was cast in bronze.

References:   ANS 46, Baxter 353, Marqusee 252

References:   Murtha 468

The medal's obverse bears seated Franklin, facing half right. Around, NATIONAL EXPORT EXPOSITION

The reverse bears wreath and legend, AWARDED / BY THE / NATIONAL / EXPORT EXPOSITION / TO / (engraved Partrick Carter & Wilkins) / ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE / FRANKLIN INSTITUTE / PHILADELPHIA / 1899

The National Export Exposition ran from September 14, 1899 to November 30, 1899 and was intended to provide

It was supported by Congress, various Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, and other corporate interests, as well as the city of Philadelphia and private citizens. In essence, it was an international industrial fair to demonstrate American goods to an international audience, but also to give American manufacturers easier access to international manufacturing technology.

The circular medal measures 50.7mm in diameter and was struck in silver by the August C. Frank Company of Philadelphia.