All Medals

The medal's obverse bears female kneeling in field with her hands in the earth, spatula stuckin ground next to her; column of soldiers marching from left to right in background. Across, UNITES / STATES - OF / AMERICA

The medal's reverse bears full basket of vegetables with carrot and pumpkins lying next to it. Around top, NATIONAL · WAR · GARDEN · COMMISSION; in extergue, crossed rifle and hoe; across, THE SEEDS OF VICTORY / INSURE THE FRUITS OF PEACE / 1914 - 1919; signed at lower right, TIFFANY Co

War Gardens were the brain child of Charles Lathrop Pack. He came up with the idea in March 1917 (before the US entered the war) to increase the food supply without increasing the “use of land already cultivated, of labor already engaged in agricultural work, of time devoted to other necessary occupations, and of transportation facilities which were already inadequate to the demands made upon them.”

He organized the National War Garden Commission which included among its members Luther Burbank, representatives of several major universities, and the president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The commission publicized the gardens with pamphlets, printed material for newspaper distribution, and colorful, propagandist posters.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany & Co. of New York.

Many thanks to Ben Burnham for granting me permission to use the images from his eBay store.

The medal's obverse bears corporate building with flag at top, scenes from corporate life in ring around small raised center field bearing roman numerals from VII to XII followed by I through VI arranged in old-fashioned, semi-circular floor display style, snowflake and flowers beneath.

The reverse bears legend only. Around, · QUALITY · RESPONSIBILITY · MUTUALITY ·  / EFFICIENCY · FREEDOM; in center field, IN / RECOGNITION / OF YOUR PERSONAL / CONTRIBUTION / TO OUR SUCCESS / (cartouche inscribed to John F. Bozzuffi / 15 Years) / (M&M / MARS logo)

My guess is that the centerfield represent a commitment to not let work intrude into private life. Work is represented by the roman numerals indicating the time from 7am to 6pm. Private life is symbolized by the snowflake and the flowers.

This is the 15 year service medal of M&M Mars. Like Goodyear many years earlier, they Mars chose different medal designs for different lengths of service or association.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in idameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 21

The obverse bears bearded portrait of Griswold as Hagen, l., holding a spear. Signed and dated at lower right, © W. D. Paddock 1912

The reverse bears a phrase of music over a wreath. Around, DEBUT · HAGEN - 1912 · / · PUTNAM GRISWOLD ·

Putnam Griswold (1875-1914) was an American opera singer.  Born in Minneapolis, he pursued a business career before discovering his voice at the age of 22. He studied in London, Paris, and Germany and became a regular member of the Berlin Opera. In 1911 he returned to America to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where his Wagner interpretations won over public and critics alike. He died suddenly of appendicitis in 1914, cutting short a stellar operatic career.

The medal was cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears lazy man asleep under stylized tree, blazing sun overhead, snail in sleeper's shadow at left. Below THOU SLUGGARD; at lower edge of figure, J. de Coux ©

The reverse bears three ants communicating with antennae amid grass. Around, GO TO THE ANT CONSIDER HER WAYS / (thistle) AND BE WISE (sunflower)

Janet de Coux based her medal on Proverbs 6:6:

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise;
Which having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as a robber,
And thy want as an armed man.

This medal was chosen as the 25th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1942. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 767 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-025, Marqusee 116, SoM 25

References:   ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

The medal's obverse bears kneeling lyre player facing right. Around, BOSTON SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA 1881 - 1956; signed atright top of exergue, F.W. ALLEN

The reverse bears wreath and lyre with inscription, SEVENTY / FIFTH / ANNIVERSARY / MEDAL

The Boston Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1881 by businessman and philanthropist Henry Lee Higginson. It gave its inaugural concert on October 22, 1881, under the direction of Georg Henschel.

This medal is very similar to the Boston Symphonic Orchestra's 50th Anniversary medal.  Only the legends are different.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1956-047

References:   Cal FM-1975

The uniface medal's obverse bears art deco style hand holding a chemical flask in front of plinth with winged steed. To left and around, 30 / YEAR OF - FRIENDLY RELATIONS; at lower right, GOOD (winged foot logo) YEAR / A LEADER IN / RESEARCH; signed at bottom right, (RC monogram)

This is the 30 year version of Rene Chambellan's Goodyear series of medallions. All of these medallions came mounted to a wooden board to be hung in offices or shops that were selling Goodyear product. The design of this medal borrows heavily from another medal Chambellan designed in the same year. That medal was a generic Arts award medal that did not include the chemical vessels but shared the basic design with this medal.

The circular medal measures 108mm and is struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1948-041-005

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles William Eliot, right. Around top, CHARLES WILLIAM ELIOT

The reverse bears wreath. At top, 1924; in center field, "THE INDIVIDUAL / FINDS THAT / BY SERVING / OTHERS HE BEST / SERVES HIMSELF"; signed above bottom of wreath, © W · CLARK - NOBLE · Sc·

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was one of Harvard University's long-serving presidents. The quote on the medal's reverse is from an essay he entitled "The Happy Life," in which he attempted to provide moral and philosophical guidance, particularly to young people.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.