All Medals

The medal's obverse bears portrait of young Lindbergh, slight right, before sea and sky, sun setting at left. Around upper right, C * LINDBERGH *; across, NEW · YORK - · TO PARIS · IN · / · 33½ HOURS · / MAY 20 · 21 / · 1927 · ; signed above left shoulder, © H

The reverse bears airplane over sea and setting sun, flanked by wings emanating from shell at bottom center. Around top, · · NEW · YORK · TO · PARIS · ; at bottom, · · · c 1927 H · ·

This is one of the more beautiful Lindbergh commemorative medals.  Hinton shows his soft touch in a portrait that reflects both youth and boundless optimism.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver. No mintages are reported though I have only encountered the small bronze and the silver medal once, so they appear to be rarer than the large bronze.

References:   MACo 1932-014, Marqusee 205

The obverse bears portrait of Andreas Vesalius with his signature to the right.  Signed at left, Albert d'Andrea.

The reverse bears small centaur in abstract wreath. In center field, TENTH / MD / ANNIVERSARY / 1967; around, ANDREAS VESALIUS - SYMBOL OF MEDICINE AND ART

Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) was a Flamish physician and author of "De humanis corporis fabrica," one of the most influential books on human anatomy.  He is often called the founder of modern human anatomy.  He died in debt on the Greek island of Zakynthos after initially surviving a ship wrreck which stranded him there.

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

References:   MACo 1967-159

The medal's obverse bears upholstered armchair. Around, SHEARMAN BROTHERS COMPANY / JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK; under chair, OUR / 75th YEAR

The reverse bears company's trademark. Around, MANUFACTURING QUALITY FURNITURE / DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY; in geometric logo, SHEARMAN / BROTHERS / COMPANY / HIGH GRADE / UPHOLSTERY / JAMESTOWN / NEW / YORK / TRADE / MARK

I find myself oddly attracted to this otherwise pretty standard corporate commemorative.  The armchair is very nicely rendered with a floral pattern and the overall composition is pleasing.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obvese bears a desert scene from a trading caravan with camel at left and group of two Bedouins haggling over a length of cloth; camels in background on sand dune. Signed at bottom right, KILENYI

The obverse bears city with factories in background. In lower half, NATIONAL RETAIL DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION / REPLICA OF MEDALS / AWARDED TO / CARLOS B. CLARK AND LEW HAHN / FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE / TO THE CRAFT / PRESENTED FEBRUARY 7. 1929

Clark and Hahn each received a gold medal that was named to them. Another 18 gold medals were issued over the next 30 years. One gold-plated medal named to Seidel is kjnown to exist. 

Many thanks to Harry Waterson for the detailed information on variants and mintages.

The medal's obverse bears Irish Setter, facing left. Above, IRISH SETTER; below, AKC RECOGNITION 1878; signed at left, R. J. BROWN

The reverse bears Westminster Kennel Club's coat of arms. Around, THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL FOUNDATION

This is one of four medal issued by the Westminster Kennel Foundation featuring different dog breeds.  The other three are poodle, beagle, and Saint Bernard. The date on the obverse represents the year in which the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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 1973-208-002

The galvano bears allegorical figure of America emerging from threatening clouds, stretching arms out protectively over children reading and playing at her feet; radiant beams of light behind figure. In exergue, · AMERICA · AIDS · THE · / · CHILDREN · OF · / · FRANCE · ; signed along left bottom, · P · MANSHIP · / © 1918

The French Heroes' Fund was established by Americans to rehabilitate wounded French soldiers, to help their families, and to aid children orphaned by the First World War. The fund purchased the childhood château of the Marquis de Lafayette–America's ally in the  Revolutionary War–and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of the French.

The allegorical figure of America wears the Phrygian cap and classical gown that also symbolizes Marianne, France's version of America's "Lady Liberty." 

This design was used as the reverse on a medal struck by the Medallic Art Company. The circular galvano relief measures 124.6mm in diameter.

Many thanks to the curators and editors of the excellent website of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum, which provided a lot of the content for this relief.

The obverse bears a nude boy with a fishing rod who just caught a little fish and the the first half of an Oliver Wendell Holmes quotation: "OH WHAT ARE THE PRIZES WE PERISH TO WIN."

The reverse bears a jumping trout with the second half of the quote: "TO THE FIRST LITTLE SHINER WE CAUGHT WITH A PIN."

In the artists own words:

"Beneath these whimsical words of the poet runs a vein of seriousness. I have not been unmindful of that undercurrent. A boy fishing is a common sight. But a boy's hopes, aspirations, struggles - these are the things that build the world's epics."

This medal was chosen as the 9th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 1,207 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-009, Marqusee 3, SoM 9

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.

References:   BG 12