All Medals

References:   Murtha 474

The plaque depicts nude male figure, striding left, bearing torch and palm frond; behind him, rearing Pegasus and disc with SAFETY legend. Around top, ROHM & HAAS SAFETY AWARD; in exergue, AWARDED TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE / BRIDESBURG PLANT / INTERLPANT SAFETY CONTEST / 1954; signed above exergue at right, RENE CHAMBELLAN SC.

The company was founded in Esslingen, Germany, by Dr. Otto Röhm and Otto Haas in 1907. Haas moved to Philadelphia and began the American side of the business on September 1, 1909, from an office on Front Street, while Otto Röhm remained in Germany to run a company that would eventually become Röhm GmbH.  The American side of the business grew rapidly and its annual revenue in 2008 reached almost $9 billion. In 2009, the Dow Chemical Corporation acquired Rohm & Haas, ending its independence.

The plaque was awarded to Rohm & Haas plants that had achieved outstanding results in attaining the company's objectives in industrial safety.  Usually, this meant an entire year of operations without an accident that caused the loss of work time due to injury. The plaque depicted is dated 1954 and that is the earliest mention of the award I could find.  While I can't know for sure, I would date the plaque to the early 1950's. Any additional information would be appreciated.

The plaque is cast in coppery bronze and measures 273mm x 395mm. No mintage is reported though it was still being awarded in the 1970's, so there must be quite a few of them around.

References:   Murtha 214

References:   SoM 121

References:   Murtha 473

The galvano's obverse bears bust of Earl B. Barnes, a director of Medallic Art Company, facing left. Above, · EARL · B · BARNES ·; signed and dated at lower right, (JSR monogram) / 1935

In the late 1930's, John Curlee Trees, the owner of Medallic Art Company, engaged John R. Sinnock, then working as engraver at the U.S. Mint, to design five portrait medals of MACo's Board of Directors. Medallic Art Company usually created at least one large galvano for each medal they produced. This plaque comes from the family of one of the Directors. Whether all Directors received one or whether this is a unique piece is hard to establish but I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has another one or can provide additional information.

The galvano plaque measures approximately 305mm (12") in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The medal's obverse bears bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Around, ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENT UNITED STATES.; signed under truncation, BARBER

The reverse bears stylized wreath with legend, MARCH 4. 1861 / TO / APRIL 15. 1865. / EMANCIPATION / PROCLAIMED / JAN. 1. 1863.; in exergue, MEDAL SERIES OF THE / U.S. MINT. / J. POLLOCK - 1871-  DIRECTOR

This handsome medal can be seen as an expression of gratitude from Mint director James Pollock to his friend Abraham Lincoln.  Not only did they serve in Congress together, but they also boarded at the same boardinghouse!  When Pollock retired from Congress, Lincoln appointed him Director of the U.S. Mint.

The circular medal measures 45mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint in the years between 1871 and 1904. A total of 363 pieces were struck in that period,155 of them in 1872 alone. The medal is usually identified as Julian CM-16.

Most of the information on this medal came from John Kraljevich's  website.

This uniface variant's obverse bears a stylized tre with buds and birds. Around, · THE GARDEN CLUB · / OF AMERICA

The circular medal measures 74.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1938-007