All Medals

References:   Murtha 465

The galvano's obverse bears bust of the owner of Medallic Art Company, Clyde C. Trees, facing left; to his right, medal press in a circle. Above, · CLYDE · C · TREES ·; signed and dated at lower left, (JSR monogram) / 1940

In the late 1930's, John Curlee Trees, the owner of Medallic Art Company, engaged John R. Sinnock, then working as engraver at the U.S. Mint, to design five portrait medals of MACo's Board of Directors. Medallic Art Company usually created at least one large galvano for each medal they produced. This plaque comes from the family of one of the Directors. Whether all Directors received one or whether this is a unique piece is hard to establish but I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has another one or can provide additional information.

The galvano plaque measures approximately 305mm (12") in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   Baxter 240, MACo 1958-007

References:   Cal HM-1997

This medal's obverse bears an open hand holding a Reuleaux triangle with inscribed letter π and arrow head; longitude and latitude grid in background, spanning the entire medal.

The reverse bears same hand and globe with superimposed legend. Around top, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION; across, A DECLARATION / OF / INTERDEPENDENCE / EDUCATION / FOR / A GLOBAL COMMUNITY / 1976

This is a very thick, heavy medal, weighing in at almost 250g. I assume that the thickness was a design element, making the medal slightly more three dimensional and spherical to stress the "globe" design element.

I know neither the artist nor the mintage and would appreciate additional information, also about the event at which this medal was handed out or awarded.

The circular medal measures 62.4mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported but it is numbered at the 12 o'clock edge, so it probably had a somwhat smaller edition size.

The medal's obverse bears Berghoff's logo in center. Across, Berghoff / 18 - 87 / BEER

The reverse bears view of brewery. In exergue, BERGHOFF BREWING CORPORATION / 1025 GRANT AVENUE / FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

The Berghoff Brewing Corporation was founded in 1887 by Hermann Berghoff and his three brothers, Henry, Hubert, and Gustav. Within just three years they ramped up production from 12,000 barrels to 90,000 barrels per year. Their lager beer was known by its slogan "A Real German Brew" and received high acclaim at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. With World War I and the accompanying wide-spread anti-German sentiment, the company changed its slogan to "A Real Honest Brew."  By the 1950s the company's sales were flat and the brewery was in desperate need of modernization to stay competitive. In 1954 the family decided to sell everything but the brand name to the Falstaff Brewing Company of St. Louis. The brand name was sold separately to the Walter Brewing Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Walter still brews and sells beer under the Berghoff name today.

Rene Chambellan seems to have had a very good working relationship with brewing companies.  In addition to this medal, he designed commemorative medals for the Schaefer and Pabst companies.

The medal measures 69.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1937-001

The medal's obverse bears Queen Astrid, facing left. Signed at bottom right, G. DEVREESE

The reverse bears cross in center field. Around, · LA CROIX ROUGE · / RECONNAISANCE

An identical portrait to the one on the obverse appears on a larger medal commemorating Queen Astrid's death, dated 1935.  I would date this medal to about the same time period but would appreciate a Belgian medal or Devreese specialist's opinion on this.

The circular medal measures 45mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Jules Fonson and Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1963-001-042, GANYU 42