All Medals

This medal's obverse bears portrait of Avery facing left. Around, · PRESENTED · TO · SAMVEL · PVTNAM · AVERY · BY · HIS · FRIENDS · AND · THE · ARCHITECTS · OF · NEW · YORK; signed over shoulder at right, V D BRENNER / 1914

The reverse bears view of building facade framed by trees and shrubs. Above, THE AVERY LIBRARY; below, framed by two wreaths, · FOVNDED · BY · / · SAMVEL · PVTNAM · AVERY · / · AND · MARY · OGDEN · AVERY · / · 1890 · / · COMPLETED · BY · / · SAMVEL · PVTNAM · AVERY · / · THEIR · SON · / · 1912 ·

The edge is marked TIFFANY & CO. FINE SILVER

The Avery Library is named for Henry Ogden Avery, one of late nineteenth century New York's promising young architects and a friend of William Robert Ware, who founded the Department of Architecture at Columbia in 1881. A few weeks after Avery's premature death in 1890, his parents, Samuel Putnam Avery and Mary Ogden Avery, established the library as a memorial to their son. They offered 2,000 of his books, mostly in architecture, archaeology, and the decorative arts, many of his original drawings, funds to round out the book collection, and an endowment to assure the continuous growth of the library.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in silver by Tiffany & Company of New York City.

References:   Baxter 141

The medal's obverse bears owl perched on an oak branch. Above, MEMBER'S MEDAL; to left, PARVA NE / PEREANT; signed at lower right, ELISCU

The medal's reverse bears an oak sapling growing through a rock. Around, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

By the 1970's it became apparent that a new member medal had to be created.  The stock of old Borglum medals was about to be exhausted and the old dies were not in good enough shape for another production run.  The ensuing competition was won by Frank Eliscu with a design that bore a Barn owl symbolizing wisdom and learning.  As Eliscu wrote in his notes:

The owl has long been a symbol of learning and scholarship. The Greeks associates the owl with their patroness Athena, Godess [sic] of Knowledge, and this bird look [sic] out from the obverse side of Athenian coins.

In using the Barn Owl, I am trying to relate more closely with the American scene, and as the A.N.S. is one of America's oldest learned societies. I feel the Barn owl, stylized, a most appropriate symbol.

The medal thus became the 53rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society. Exact mintages are not available but by April 1979 the following mintages were reported:  122 in silver and 241 in bronze.  The initial order carried serial numbers on the edge.

References:   ANS 53, MACo 1977-123

References:   MACo 1967-151-005

The plaquette's obverse bears knight with cross-emblazoned tunic, sheathed sword and shield held strapped to left arm, standing in door frame, shielding huddled women and children from billowing smoke or clouds in background. Signed in top right corner, Jean Droit

The reverse bears legend and dedication, CROIX ROUGE / DE / BELGIQUE / (inscribed) MR. A. PIRON

According to the artist's French Wikipedia entry, this is one of two iconic images he created for the Red Cross. This one symbolizes the perfect qualities of the Red Cross helper: the knight without fear and beyond reproach.

The rectangular plaquette measures 57.3mm x 66.3mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears line of steel-helmeted doughboys, rifles in hand, with bayonets fixed, about to go over the top. To right, FOR / HUMANITY / 1918.

The reverse bears imaginary portrait of Col. Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams College, on horseback, in the uniform of a Continental Army officer. Around top, E LIBERALITATE E WILLIAMS ARMIGERI 1793; at bottom, THE WILLIAMS MEDAL;

Edge engraved to GOODRICH C. SCHAUFFLER PRIV.

The official description for the medal's reverse is actually a bit incorrect. The medal depicts Williams at Lake George in 1755, so he is in the uniform of a French and Indian War officer, not a Continental officer.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. The college awarded a total of 1726 pieces to Williams men who served in World War I.

References:   Baxter 320, MACo 1918-004, Marqusee 165

References:   ANS 33

The medal's obverse bears horse-drawn fire wagon racing down a street from right to left. In exergue, FIRE DEPARTMENT / CITY OF NEW YORK

The reverse shows the fire department's coat of arms in oval field, flanked by sprigs of laurel and oak. Around, THE JOHN H. PRENTICE MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR VALOR ·; across, AWARDED TO / WILLIAM M. J. YATES / FIREMAN 1ST GRADE H. & L. CO. No. 4 / 1934; signed at bottom, TIFFANY & CO

This rare medal has been awarded since 1920 for acts of valor by New York City fire fighters. I could not find out much about either Mrs. Prentice or Yates.  Mr. Prentice seems to have been a Brooklyn official. I would love to document Mr. Yates' act of valor that caused him to receive this medal. Maybe someone with connections to the FDNY can help out with information.

My medal has been pretty badly abused. In addition to the gouges, scratches, and nicks, it also had its loop removed.  Normally, the medal is looped and worn on a ribbon.

The circular medal measures 49mm in diameter and was struck in 14kt gold by Tiffany & Co. of New York City.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References:   MACo 1970-044

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Claude Moore Fuess, facing left, in recessed center field. Around smaller center field, DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION / · TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE · ; around edge, (rosette) THE CLAUDE MOORE FUESS AWARD (rosette) / PHILLIPS ACADEMY ANDOVER; signed under bust, P,M,

The reverse bears Phillips Andover Academy's coat of arms with motto NON SIBI over FINIS ORIGINE PENDET; banner beneath. Across, GIVE ME A ROBUST / NONCONFORMIST WHO / HAS THE COURAGE / OF HIS / CONVICTIONS; around, WEBSTER CHOATE CUSHING SCHURZ COOLIDGE EASTMAN STIMSON

Phillips Andover Academy's highest alumni honor is named after Claude Moore Fuess (1885-1963) who was its headmaster from 1933 to 1948. Awardees are selected based on having a "significant positive impact on their communities, society, or the world."

The circular medallion measures 89mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1964-007