All Medals

References:   Baxter 304, MACo 1914-011, Marqusee 338

References:   MACo 1951-050

The medal's obverse bears muscular, nude male figure in flight, caduceus in outstretched hand, mortar and pestle in other. Across, Science - for the / world's - well-being / CHAS. PFIZER & CO., INC.; signed under legend, PHIILIPS, SC.

The reverse bears view of research facility in wooded landscape. Around, PFIZER MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES; in exergue, DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH / IN THE SERVICE OF / MEDICINE AND MANKIND / OCTOBER 6, 1960

The medal's obverse was designed by Thomas Philips and the reverse by Joseph di Lorenzo.

The medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1960-066

The obverse bears reclining stag before flowering plants. Signed in exergue at right, G K LATHROP

The reverse bears bird, possibly a crossbill, perched on cone, working to extract seeds from it. Around, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

This was the second of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1974.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 2

The medal's obverse bears view of Connecticut building at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia.Around top, CONNECTICUT STATE BUILDING; in exergue, SESQUI-CENTENNIAL / PHILADELPHIA / 1776 (bell) 1926

The reverse bears statue of Nathan Hale at left, decorated shield with Connecticut coat of arms at top right. Across, "I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE / BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR / MY COUNTRY" / NATHAN HALE / PATRIOT-MARTYR / CONNECTICUT / 1755 / 1776; at left edge,in tiny letters, WHITEHEAD-HOAG

Nathan Hale (1755-1776) was an American soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British and executed. Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut.

The circular medal measures 28.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery's Numismatics Department for their support and assistance in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   HK 456

This medal's obverse bears bust of Gibbons facing right. Around, JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS

The reverse bears a view of Baltimore Basilica above coat of arms. Around, SACERDOS · 30 · JUN · 1861 ✝ EPISCOPUS · 16 · AUG 1868 (crozier) ARCHIEPISCOPUS · 3 · OCT · 1877 ☨ CARDINALIS · 30 · JUN · 1886; to left and right of coat of arms, 1861 - 1911

James Cardinal Gibbons was only the second American to attain the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Born to Irish immigrants, he became a priest in 1861 after recovering from severe Malaria that had left him too weak to be ordained four years earlier. Gibbons was controversial on several issues. He was a strong supporter of workers' causes and was instrumental in securing papal permission for Catholics to organize in labor unions. He also took a position in support of the King of Belgium and against clergy who were complaining against exploitative colonial practices.

Mencken, often a harsh critic of Christian ministers, wrote in 1921 after the Gibbons' death:

"More presidents than one sought the counsel of Cardinal Gibbons: he was a man of the highest sagacity, a politician in the best sense, and there is no record that he ever led the Church into a bog or up a blind alley. He had Rome against him often, but he always won in the end, for he was always right."

Designed by Jenkins and modeled by Miller, this medal was issued as part of Gibbons' golden jubilee celebration where President Taft honored him for his contributions.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1911-001

References:   MACo 1930-001-001, Marqusee 174, SoM 1

The obverse bears a female head (alternatively representing Greater New York or Columbia) crowned with laurel in high relief, facing right.

The reverse depicts a full figure of nude male facing left, standing erect, pouring water from classic vase resting on his shoulder. On Left and right, TO COMMEMORATE - THE COMPLETION / OF THE CATSKILL - AQUEDUCT / AN ACHIEVEMENT - OF CIVIC SPIRIT / SCIENTIFIC GENIUS - AND FAITHFUL LABOR / 1905 NEW - YORK 1917

This is the 35th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

This medal was authorized by the Medal subcommittee of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee and issued by the American Numismatic Society (ANS).

Daniel Chester French won this commission through his acquaintance with Robert de Forest, with whom he served on the board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and who also was the president of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee. The committee was convened to organize the celebrations in honor of the completion of the massive Catskill Aqueduct project. Construction had started twelve years earlier in 1905. By 1917 a 163-mile long system of tunnels and pipes had been completed to transport water from the Catskill Mountains to New York City.

Although the medal is commonly credited to Daniel Chester French, the reverse was actually designed by both French and Augustus Lukeman.

In 1933, Clyde Curlee Trees, the President of Medallic Art Company chose French's beautiful female head as the symbol of his company and obviously gained permission to use the design in many different ways. The head became not only the company logo but also appeared on bronze replica medals that were struck in an unknown quantity. As late as 1979 the Medallic Art Company issued gold-plated struck bronzes in the small diameter.

The original medals measured 76mm in diameter and were cast by the Medallic Art Company in a quantity of 57 bronze and 23 silver pieces. 13 of the silver pieces were supposedly disposed of but other sources report that 12 silver pieces survived.

Later, an unknown number of the smaller 38mm diameter brones were struck by the Medallic Art Company.

References:   ANS 35, Baxter 245, MACo 1917-007, Marqusee 177

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Benjamin Ourisman facing left. Around, BENJAMIN OURISMAN MEMORIAL CIVIC AWARD; signed on truncation, G. ROBERTS 1957

The reverse bears Star of David at top. Below, PRESENTED TO / (cartouche) / BY THE / JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER / OF WASHINGTON / IN RECOGNITION OF / OUTSTANDING AND MERITORIOUS / SERVICES / (cartouche)

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1957-064