All Medals

The plaquette's obverse bears a moneyer producing a coin by striking a die with a hammer. Behind him, representations of rare medals from the ANS collection. Signed and dated at lower right, (JOV monogram / 83)

The reverse bears three panels, arranged vertically. In top panel, a screw press; in bottom panel, a Janvier pantographic lathe making a reduction of V. D. Brenner's Lincoln cent; in central panel at left, 1858; at right, 1983; in middle, THE AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / SOCIETY / (oak leaf) / "parva ne pereant"

This medal was the 54th official issue of the American Numismatic Society in 1983.  It was chosen by an ad-hoc committee which selected from designs submitted by seven different sculptors. Marcel Jovine won the design competition (and a cash award of $3,500) but his original design was rejected by some Council members due to male nudity. 

Jovine submitted an alternative design that did not include the male nudity and that design was accepted, even though some members quibbled that the moneyer looked like he was going to hit himself rather than the die.

The plaquette was struck in bronze, silver and gold by Stefano Johnson of Italy. The mintage is reported as 2 pieces in gold, 100 in silver, and 500 in bronze.  Originally,only 2 gold pieces were produced but Frank Bass' gold piece was lost and so a third piece was struck.

References:   ANS 54

This medal's obverse bears bust of John Hay facing left. At top, JOHN HAY; along bottom, THE ROWFANT CLVB CLEVELAND OHIO; signed to right of shoulder, V.D.Brenner / 1912

The reverse bears seated female figure studying partially unrolled map of China coastline, globe with Pacific ocean and the Americas on desk, books strewn on floor. Around top, OPEN DOOR IN THE FAR EAST

The Rowfant Club was founded in 1892 by members who were "interested in primarily the critical study of books in their various capacities to please the mind of man." Membership was by invitation only.

John Hay was chosen as the subject of this medal because he was a famous diplomat and statesman and a native of Cleveland himself. He had been an honorary member of the Rowfant Club and had died in 1905 after a productive life in public service.

This medal was a gift of Ambrose Swasey, an industrialist and past President of the Rowfant Club of Cleveland, Ohio. Swasey engaged Brenner to create a medal for the Rowfant Club that would be handed to every member upon admission. Swasey obviously liked Brenner's work as he commissioned another medal a few years later to celebrate his company's 40th anniversary.

The medal measures 77mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. A mintage of 170 numbered pieces has been reported.

References:   Marqusee 93

This medal does not have a traditional obverse and reverse. It is cast of two parts, the upper piece being two stylized fingers holding a coin bearing the ANS seal. The upper piece nestles into the base that bears the acronym ANS on its surface.

This medal was the 56th official issue of the American Numismatic Scoiety's member medal series. It was issued as part of the Society's endowment drive in the period from 1986 to 1989.  While bronze variants were for sale to all members at a price of $100, silver variants were only given to donors who contributed at least $5,000 to the Society's coffers.

The irregularly shaped two-piece medal measures approximately 83mm x 82mm and was cast in bronze and silver by the C. A. Brown Foundry. The production quantity is reported as 48 pieces in bronze and 70 in silver.

References:   ANS 56

The medal's obverse bears bust of Jerry Land facing right in circular center field. Around, THE VICE ADMIRAL "JERRY" LAND / MEDAL / (star) (star) (star) THE SOCIETY OF (star) (star) (star) / NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS

The reverse bears organization's logo flanked by two dolphins over cartouche and streamer. In cartouche, FOR OUTSTANDING / ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE / MARINE FIELD; signed between folds of streamer, PM

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers was founded in 1893 as a U.S. engineering society.  Today, the group has members in almost every seafaring and offshore energy nation and has various international chapters known as sections.

The medal was named for Vice Admiral Emory S. "Jerry" Land and is awarded for "Outstanding Accomplishment in the Marine Field." Awardees need not be members of the organization. It has been awarded annually since its inception in 1952 when it was awarded to Vice Admiral Land himself.

Emory S. Land (1879-1971) was an officer in the United States Navy, noted for his contributions to naval architecture, particularly in submarine design. Notable assignments included serving as Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair during the 1930s, and as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his work on submarine design and construction and for work in the war zone.

The hexagonal medal measures 50.7mm x 72.7mm, including the loop. It was struck in gold-plated bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1952-009

The uniface medal bears bust of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, left. Around top, FERDINAND·VANDEVEER·HAYDEN; under truncation, M·D·C·C·C·LXXXVIII; signed and dated at bottom with (JF monogram ) / MC - MVI

This medal was awarded by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences for recognition of the best publication, exploration, discovery or research in the natural sciences of geology and paleontology. Established in 1888, the bronze medal was accompanied by a cash award of $300 and was awarded every three years.

References:   Marqusee 145

This uniface medal shows young mother breastfeeding her baby, one hand holding her breast, the other supporting baby's head.

Maker's mark at 6:00 om edge, MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.

The Medallic Art Company acquired the rights to this French medal in 1933 and made a stock medal in one size. Chapu was primarily a portrait medalist who had a great influence on young American artists who studied under him at the Academie Julian. Among his American pupils were such greats as John Flanagan, Hermon Atkins MacNeil, and Bela Pratt.

The medal measures 85mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1933-035, Marqusee 113

The medal's obverse bears conjoined busts of Nixon and Eisenhower, facing left, within beaded border. Around, · SECOND · INAUGURATION · JANUARY · 20 · 1957 · ; signed under truncation, W. HANCOCK

The reverse bears legend within ring of grain, DWIGHT / DAVID / EISENHOWER / RICHARD / MILHOUS / NIXON

The circular medal measures 69.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1956-062

The medal's obverse bears woman standing in gate leading into formal garden. In exergue, AMERICAN DAHLIA SOCIETY

The reverse bears American Eagle bearing arrows, olive branch, and streamer reading ORGANIZED - MAY 10 1915. Underneath, AWARDED TO / (cartouche for inscription)

The American Dahlia Society (ADS) was founded in 1915 and is composed of over 70 independent local societies in the US and Canada. Today it is a non-profit organization for the purpose of stimulating interest in, disseminating information about, and promoting the culture and development of, the dahlia.

The medal measures 73.4mm x 47.1mm  and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.