All Medals

The uniface medal bears a basketbll player poised to pass ball, r. Across, NATIONAL - COLLEGIATE / BASKET- BALL / CHAM- PION- SHIP; signed (RAW monogram) / ©

Dick Johnson lists three different set numbers for this medal but as they are without images, I can't be sure which one this medal represents.  The set numbers are 001 through 003.

The circular medal measures 44.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1950-056

The medal bears portrait of Rowland Gibson Hazard, facing right. Around left, ROWLAND HAZARD - MCMVI / MDCCCXXIX - AVGVST - XVI - MDCCCXCVIII - SYRACVSE; around right, SOLVAY PROCESS Co FOVNDED / MDCCCLXXXI; signed over shoulder, R E·BROOKS / FECIT

Rowland Gibson Hazard was the brother of Solvay Process Company co-founder Roland Hazard II and was the company's vice president for many years. The Solvay Process Company built a giant chemical plant in up-state New York that gave the surrounding town its name. The plant closed in 1986 due to competition from cheaper sources of baking soda.

R. E. Brooks was one of the first artists to use Henri Weil's Janvier machine in New York City, however there are no documents to prove or disprove that the medal was manufactured by the young Medallic Art Company.

The circular uniface medal measures 64.1mm in diameter.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears heads of female figure at left and male figure at right, female figure's hair extending down left edge and up between figures. Around, L'ERE DE L'INFORMATION - THE INFORMATION AGE; across, MONTRÉAL / 1992; signed at lower left, Hunt

The reverse bears legend, XIIe CONGRESS INTERNATIONAL / DES ARCHIVES / XIIth INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS / ON ARCHIVES / MONTREAL / 1992

The International Council on Archives was established around 1940 to promote cooperation amongst the national archival communities to develop better archival policies, procedures, and services to meet the challenges of an ever-changing society. Congresses are held every four years when delegates from all over the world meet to discuss topics of current concern. The XIIth meeting was held from the 7-11 September 1992 in Montreal, Canada. The theme of the congress was "The Profession of the Archivist in the Information Age".

The circular medal measures 50mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Lombardo Mint. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 32

The obverse bears head of Dionysus above kylix with hands flanking it on left and right; sculptor's tools, lyre, books, and brushes around edge. Around Dionysus' head, SALMAGVNDI · CLVB

The reverse shows a female figure holding a scroll in one hand and a laurel in the other; sun over stylized waves to left, owl to right. Flanking figure, HONOR · ET / MERITVS; signed at bottom left, U·A·RICCI / SC

Every medal is edge inscribed to its recipient.

The Salmagundi is the oldest existing art club in America. Founded in late 1871 by a group composed of sculptors, painters, illustrators, an actor and a writer who gathered weekly to discuss art and sketch. Owing to their diverse backgrounds they adopted the name "Salmagundi Sketch Club" in 1877 after Washington Irving's Salmagundi Papers. The club moved about for many years, dropping the "Sketch" from their title in 1905, and finally settled for good at 47 Fifth Avenue in 1918. Their roster has included some of America's greatest artists including Edwin A. Abbey, William Merritt Chase, F. Childe Hassam, John LaFarge, Edward Potthast, Howard Pyle, Louis C. Tiffany and N.C. Wyeth.

The medal of honor and merit was designed in 1930 to be awarded to a member chosen by the Executive Committee for outstanding service to the club. This medal was designed around the same time that Paul Manship was designing his famous Dionysus medal for the Society of Medalists and the parallels in imagery are striking. The camaraderie of the club always focused around good food and especially drink. The first beer ever served on Fifth Avenue was at Salmagundi. The symbols of a book, lyre and tools for painting and sculpting allude to the diversity of the club's membership. The medal has been awarded 52 times since its inception.

The circular medallion measures 79.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1938-006

References:   ANS 28, Baxter 253

References:   Murtha 211

The obverse bears running locomotive with figure of Mercury flying overhead and carrying tray with fruit and bottle; sun rays with date "1930" in background; bolts of lightning emerging from train wheels; all within beaded border; surrounding legend SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM CENTENNIAL / South Carolina 1830 Virginia 1831 Alabama 1832.

The reverse bears cornucopia at center with legend COTTON CORN TOBACCO; all within beaded border; surrounding legend A CENTURY OF SERVICE CARRYING TO MARKET THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH.

This is one of the iconic American medals and is a part of many museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

The medal is struck in bronze and measures 89mm (3 1/2in) in diameter.

References:   MACo 1930-017

References:   MACo 1983-280

The medal's obverse bears rider galloping to right, facing back with pistol held straight out. To left, PONY EXPRESS; to right, TEN DAYS TO / SAN FRANCISCO

The reverse bears settlers with Conestoga wagon drawn by oxen, mountain and sun in background. Below, NEW FRONTIERS / 18 (cattle skull) 49 / © JAMES EARLE FRASER SC

The medal's reverse is very familiar to coin collectors who know the motif from the Oregon Trail half dollar. Fraser was a traditionalist who wrote in the brochure that accompanied the medal:

"... wherever possible we should use the lore of our people. With this thought in mind I selected two of the most romantic, hazardous and important subjects of our pioneer days, the Prairie Schooner and the Pony Express."

This medal was chosen as the 45th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1952.

The circular medals measure 73mm in diameter and were struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. The reported mintage is 964 pieces in bronze.  There are two versions of the silver medal.  The first is the from the 1970's edition that was limited to 700 pieces with no mintage reported. The second is a telemarketing reissue from 1993 with an estimated mintage of 300 pieces.

References:   MACo 1930-001-45, SoM 45