All Medals

References:   Murtha 365

References:   BG 38

This medal's obverse bears nude male figure restraining rearing winged steed. Signed at right above exergue, (RCW monogram)

The medal's reverse bears facade of Brown & Bigelow building. At top of building, THE HOVSE OF QVALITY / BROWN & BIGELOW; zodiac symbols all around. Signed in exergue, RCWAKEMAN

The edge is marked with MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., as it is now known, was founded in New York City in the year 1914. The twelve original founders were Ernest Albert, Paul Cornoyer, Marshal Fry, Edmund Greacen, Arthur Powell, Walter C. Hartson, William R. Leigh, Frederick Mulhaupt, G. Glenn Newell, H. Ledyard Towle, H. A. Vincent and Jules Turcas. Its goal is to further the cause of contemporary American artists through its Annual National Open Exhibition in New York City, open to all members and non- members, demonstrations, lectures, awards at the Annual, slide program, a newsletter mentioning all activities of the Members and Associate Members and other cultural activities.

I am not quite sure how Brown & Bigelow came to be commemorated on the medal's reverse, but they likely were a big financial supporter of the organization or possibly underwrote the medal's production. The earliest reference to a Brown and Bigelow Award Medal that I could find dates to 1929.

The medal measures 63mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-042

The uniface medallion bears nude male painter, r., seated on stool, pallet cradled in left arm, brush raised in outstretched right; rolled canvas and vase filled with brushes at his feet. Signed in exergue, V. D. Brenner

Brenner succeeds in conveying the passion with which the painter pursues his art. His attention is fixed on the canvas that is not visible in the design and his body is expressing tension and passion rather than relaxed engagement.

This is probably a design for a two-sided medal.  It was struck in lead covered by a thin copper shell, a method that allowed the almost seamless combination of two such medal halves by soldering them together. 

Many thanks to the Numismatics department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generosity and assistance in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   MACo 1968-018

The uniface medallion bears a burning oil lamp surrounded by THE CENTURY / ASSOCIATION and flanked by 1847 - 1947, all surrounded by heavily beaded border.

Carl Paul Jennewein designed this simple and elegant commemorative medallion for the Century Association of New York, a club with a heavy artist presence. 

The circular medallion was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1947-028

This medal was chosen as the 2nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The obverse bears a grape-crowned, bearded god of wine over shallow, two-handled kylix. Around, in two lines, HAIL - TO - DIONYSUS - WHO - FIRST - DISCOVERED / THE - MAGIC - OF - THE - GRAPE. The reverse bears youthful satyrs trampling grapes. Below, signed © / .P.MANSHIP 1930.

Manship's medal proved to be highly controversial and thus provided much needed publicity for the still young Society of Medalists. America was still nominally observing Prohibition and at least one member is reported to have resigned over this "glorification of wine."

The medal measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck a reported 1,950 medals in bronze and 50 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-002, Marqusee 256, Murtha 265, SoM 2

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Sybil Ludington, half-right, next to equestrian statue by Anna Hyatt Huntington. Around, SYBIL LUDINGTON; in exergue, DANBURY STATUE / BY ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON; signed at bottom, TR

The reverse bears two laurel branches. Across, COMMEMORATING / DANBURY / COIN CLUB / 20th / ANNIVERSARY / OCTOBER 1957

The Danbury Coin Club was founded at 8:00 pm on Thursday October 24, 1957. Sixteen people responded to an advertisement in the Danbury News Times calling an open meeting for anyone interested in forming a local coin club in Danbury, Connecticut.

Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) was a heroine of the American Revolution. On the night of April 26, 1777, at the age of 16, she rode to alert militia forces in villages of Putnam County, New York and Danbury, Connecticut, to the approach of the British regular forces. The ride was similar to those performed by William Dawes and Paul Revere, and Jack Jouett. Ludington rode more than twice the distance of Revere and was much younger than the men.

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-107, SoM 107