All Medals

References:   Murtha 209

The medal's obverse bears Jeanne d'Arc holding banner atop high-stepping horse, facing right; angel flying at top. Around left and right, terminated by fleur-de-lis, JEANNE · / D' - ARC ·; signed and dated above exergue, PAUL MANSHIP - 1915

The reverse bears praying Jeanne d'Arc burning at the stake, hand reaching from cloud to place laurel crown on her head. Around, · · LA · VIERGE · HER-OIQUE · ET · MARTYRE · MCCCCXXXI · ·

The French inscription around the reverse's edge translates to "The heroic virgin and martyr." 

Manship made the medal to beneift the Italian War Relief Committee.  Three years earlier, in 1912, many Western countries had celebrated the 500th anniversary of Joan of Arc's birth and a lot of medals and statues had been commissioned.  Anna Hyatt Huntington had won the competition to create a heroic statue that was finally unveiled to great public acclaim in 1915. 

The Italian War Relief Fund was organized in 1915 for relieving the distress of noncombatant Italians. As always, Manship was willing to donate art to raise funds for such war-related relief efforts. This medal tied neatly into the public's fascination with the historical figure and doubled up as a not so subtle reminder that a huge conflagration had engulfed France and other parts of Europe.

The circular medal measures 74mm and was cast in bronze. It is not known how many pieces were cast. A six inch model is known to exist as well.

References:   Marqusee 255, Murtha 70

The medal's obverse bears Bolivar on hroseback, facing left. Around,BOLIVAR · EMANCIPO · VENEZUELA · EN · CARABOBO · Y · DE · ALLI · PARTIO · A · REALIZAR · LA · LIBERTAD · DEL · CONTINENTE; signed in exergue at right, Morgan

The reverse bears winged female holding sword and horn. In wreath at her right, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1821; below, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1921; around, EL · GENERAL · JUAN · VICENTE · GOMEZ · EN - CELEBRACION · DEL · CENTENARIO · DE · LA · BATALLA · DE · CARABOBO

The Battle of Carabobo on June 24, 1821, was fought between independence fighters under the command of Venezuelan General Simon Bolivar. and Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. While there were other battles to follow, Bolivar's decisive victory in this battle led to the independence of Venezuela.

This medal really demonstrates Morgan's prowess as a medalist. It is very different from much of the work he did for the U.S. Mint and is one of my favorite medals by him. The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage is not known to me but someone can hopefully help me out with this information.

The plaquette's obverse bears laurel-crowned young woman, facing right, holding wreath of laurels and stars.

The reverse bears legend, COMITÉ DE BRUXELLES / DE LA / CROIX ROUGE DE BELGIQUE / TÉMOINAGE / DE RECONNAISSANCE / 1934

This little plquette was issued by the Red Cross Committee of the city of Brussels.

The plaquette measures 35.1mm x 55.7mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Brevet Colonel James Duncan,r., die crack runniing through bust from approx. 11 o'clock to 5 o'clock. Around, PALO ALTO, RESACA DE LA PALMA, MONTEREY, VERA CRUZ, CERRO GORDA, SAN ANTONIO.; to left and right of bust, BREVET COL. - JAMES DUNCAN. Signed under truncation, C.C. WRIGHT SC.; and at bottom, S. ELLIS DEL.

The reverse bears legend only. Around, CITY OF MEXICO, GARITA BELEN, GARITA COSME, CHAPULTEPEC, MOLINA DEL REY, CHERUBUSCO.; across, PRESENTED BY / THE CITIZENS OF N.YORK / TO / BREVT. COL. JAMES DUNCAN / OF THE / UNITED STATES ARMY / DEC. 28TH. 1848.

James Duncan (d. 1849) graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1834. Two years later, he served in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians and commanded an artillery company during the war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848. His heroics in the latter conflict caught the attention of army officials, and Duncan rose rapidly from captain to colonel. In late 1848, President James Polk appointed Colonel Duncan inspector general of the United States Army.

The medal was given to him just before his first tour of inspection when he visited New York. He died only months later from Yellow Fever which he contracted from troopers in Mobile, Alabama.

The circular medal measures 53.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. No mintage is reported, but the large die crack would argue for a small production run.

The medal's obverse bears busts of James Mitchell Lamson Scovill and William Henry Scovill in circular fields at left and right; wreath-like borders at top and bottom of fields. Around top and bottom, SCOVILL MANUFACTURING / COMPANY / 1802-1902 / WATERBURY, CONN.; busts labeled around top, J. M. L. SCOVILL and WM. H. SCOVILL

The reverse bears wreath and inscription. Around, within beaded border,  CENTENNIAL OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SCOVILL MANUFACTURING CO.; in center field, PRESENTED / BY THE COMPANY / TO / ARTHUR T. HADLEY / 1802 / ABEL PORTER & CO. / 1811 / LEAVENWORTH HAYDEN & SCOVILL / 1827 / J.M.L. & W.H. SCOVILL / 1850 / SCOVILL MFG. CO.

This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in 1902. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods.

The circular medal medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Scovill Manufacturing Company itself. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the Numismatics Department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generous support with making this medal available to me for research.

References:   ANS 49

References:   MACo 1971-013-007, WR 7

The obverse bears General George Washington kneeling in prayer, horse behind; above, thirteen stars in circle. Around, TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; in exergue, 1776 - 1976; signed above exergue at right, J. KISELEWSKI

The reverse bears scene from Brookgreen Gardens, live oaks and sculpture with pathways. At bottom, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

This was the fourth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in the United States' bicentennial year, 1976.

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

References:   BG 4

References:   MACo 1972-021