All Medals

References:   ANS 6

The medal's obverse bears brown trout taking a wet fly shown with V-shaped wake.

The reverse bears a "Parmachene Belle" fishing fly. Signed at lower left, (GP monogram) / ©

This medal was selected as the 47th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1953. After "Boy Fishing", this was the second fishing-themed medal in the series. As the artist wrote in his lengthy comments accompanying the medal:

"Protagonists of the dry fly and the wet fly will still be giving one another an argument on the day of judgement. To be perfectly unbiased, this medal caters to both."

Apparently both sides liked the medal and it was universally well received by the membership.

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. The mintage is reported as 834 pieces in bronze and an unknown number of pieces in silver (from a limited edition of 700).

References:   MACo 1930-001-47, SoM 47

This medal's obverse bears Pegasus in flight above buildings representing historical landmarks in architecture; from left to right, the Sphinx, the Parthenon, the Coliseum, and skyscrapers with two eagles perched on top. The buildings rest on overlapping branches growing from architects' and sculptors' tools in exergue. Around top, NATIONAL - SCULPTURE - SOCIETY; over Sphinx, 3500 B.C.; over Parthenon, 438 B.C., over Coliseum, 80 A.D.; on sky scraper, 20 / CENTURY; above exergue, HENRY HERING / MEMORIAL MEDAL

The reverse bears conjoined eagles, one with wings spread, both perching on plinth; oak branches on both sides. At top, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN / MATT 5:16; across, AWARDED AS A MARK OF DISTINCTION / FOR OUTSTANDING COOPERATION / BETWEEN ARCHITECT AND SCULPTOR; signed in exergue to left and right of plinth, ALBINO - MANCA

The National Sculpture Society's Henry Hering Memorial Award (or Henry Hering Art and Architecture Award as it is now called) was created in 1959 and is awarded for excellence in an architectural project in which the architect collaborated with the sculptor and owner of a site. The medal is not given annually; it is awarded when the circumstance arises. Originally, there were three categories: regligious, monumental, and commercial. The jury is composed of three sculptors and two architects.

The award is named for Henry Hering (1874-1949), a brilliant architectural sculptor who had a studio in New York but whose most famous works are mainly located in the mid-west.

One interesting anecdote about Hering involves a plane crash in 1945. A military B-25 had crashed into the Empire State Building. While most of the wreckage had either embedded itself in the building or fallen to the ground, one engine continued on its way for several blocks and finally ended its voyage in Henry Hering's penthouse, destroying approximately $75,000 worth of work.

This particular medal was awarded for work in the religious category in 1961. The project was the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The recipients were Eugene F. Kennedy, Jr. of Maginnis Walsh & Kennedy (the Boston architect) and Francis Cardinal Spellman representing the Catholic Church (the owner). The same year, Paul Manship won the award in the monumental category, along with Eric Gugler of Gugler, Kimball & Husted for the American war memorial at Anzio-Nettuno in Italy.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Many thanks to Lorraine Burns for the beautiful pictures and the sleuthing involved in tracking down this particular medal's detailed history.

References:   MACo 1959-031

The medal's obverse bears the original telephone in its wooden frame. Around, THE ORIGINAL TELEPHONE OF / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

The reverse bears inscription, IN / COMMEMORATION / OF THE GOLDEN / ANNIVERSARY OF / THE INVENTION OF / THE TELEPHONE BY / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL / IN 1876 / WHACH WAS THE / BEGINNING OF THE / BELL SYSTEM

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 and the company resulting from his invention ruled the telephone market as a monopolist until its breakujp was mandated in 1982.  Since then innovations like VOIP (voice over IP) have started posing existential threats to the remaining phone companies.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.

This medal is woefully scarcely documented. Neither designer nor mint are known and I could not find any additional information.  Please contact me if you know anything about this medal.

The obverse bears elephant feeding on sapling gripped in its trunk. To right, AFRICA

The reverse bears water hole with zebras and warthog drinking, gnu walking away at right. Above, WATER HOLE; at lower right, A.H.H. ©

Huntington had already achieved fame for her equestrian and animal sculptures when she completed this medal for the Society of Medalists. She picked an animal wildlife subject and executed it beautifully.

This medal was chosen as the 27th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1943. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 747 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-027, Marqusee 207, SoM 27

References:   MACo 1929-018

The paperweight bears view of Wall Street in New York City; underneath, · 55 · WALL - STREET · 52 ·; at bottom, burning torch flanked by two oval panels connected by streamer; left panel with heraldic imageery surrounded by THE NATIONAL CITY BANK / OF NEW YORK; right panel, view of building subtitled NATIONAL CITY BANK / BUILDING, surrounded by THE NATIONAL CITY COMPANY / NEW YORK; at bottom, MAY 1ST - 1928; signed at right bottom of street scene, KILENYI

The paperweight has two rounded feet on the reverse's top corners. It measures 71.8mm x 100.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Adam Eckfeldt facing right. Around, ADAM ECKFELDT CHIEF COINER U.S. MINT 1814 1839; signed under truncation, FURST. F.

The reverse bears legend, A / FAREWELL TRIBUTE / OF / AFFECTIONATE REGARD / TO / ADAM ECKFELDT / FROM HIS / FELLOW OFFICERS / OF THE / U.S.MINT / 1839

John Adam Eckfeldt (1769-1852) was a worker and official in the early days of the U.S. Mint.  A lifelong Philadelphian, Eckfeldt served as the second chief coiner of the Mint, from 1814 until 1839. Eckfeldth recommended Franklin Peale as his successor and Peale was indeed appointed. Nevertheless, Eckfeldt continued to perform the functions of chief coiner without pay until a few days before his death on February 6, 1852. After Eckfeldt's death, Peale, wrote what Taxay terms a "frantic letter" to Mint Director George N. Eckert, seeking the appointment of an assistant. Peale had spent the freed-up time designing and selling medals for private gain.

While the medal's obverse is designed by Furst, the lettering in the reverse is usually attributed to Peale.

The circular medal measures 51.9mm in diameter and was struck at the U.S. Mint. The mintage is reported to be 1 piece in gold, which was handed to Adam Eckfeldt, 6 pieces in silver, one for each of Eckfeldt's children, and 15 to 25 pieces in bronze which were given to the officers of the U.S. Mint.  This medal is usually referred to as Julian MT-18.

Many thanks to eBay'er caarascup for his permission to use the beautiful images of the silver medal.

The medal's obverse bears a soldier facing half-left, saluting and standing at attention, his fieldkit and helmet at his feet to his right. Across, AMERICAN / EXPEDITIONARY / FORCES / FRANCE / 1919; signed at lower left, AITKEN / FECIT

The reverse bears upper half of stern-looking Statue of Liberty and stylized ocean waves.

The circular medal measures 50.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears eagle, wings spread, holding branch in talons, facing right. Signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The medal's reverse bears eagle's head in center; under beak, 19 / 87; twelve segments with months around.

1987 was the Bicentennial Year of the U.S. Constitution.  While the anniversary is not explicitly mentioned on the medal, I would not be surprised if the choice of the Eagle were a nod to Jovine's adopted country.

This circular circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in a variety of materials by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported.

Many thanks to CJ Swinko for the excellent photos of the bronze variant.

References:   MACo 1986-175, Cal MA-1987