All Medals

The medal's obverse bears bust of John Trumbull. Around left and right, JOHN - TRUMBULL; signed on truncation, at bottom, B. HUGHES DEL.

The reverse bears Columbia with American shield on steps crowning two artists, one a painter holding a pallet and brushes, one a sculptor cradling a mallet in the crook of his arm. Around left and right, AMERICAN - ART-UNION; signed and dated on steps, P.P.D.D - C.C.W.F. - 1849

John Trumbull (1756-1843) was an American painter and is often referred to as "The painter of the Revolution."  His painting of the Declaration of Independence was used on the reverse side of the bicentennial $2 bill.  He served in the Revolutionary War as an aide to George Washington, a position from which he resigned in a dispute over his commission date.

This was the third and last medal issued by the American Art-Union. 

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the U.S. Mint.  No mintages are reported but the silver variant is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of pieces known to exist.

References:   AAU 3, Marqusee 404

The uniface plaquette bears view of bridge  with ships and riverside industrial buildings. In exergue, COMMEMORATING / THE COMPLETION OF THE DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE / CONNECTING THE CITIES OF / 1921 - PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN - 1926; signed over exergue at left, L. HERMANT

This is the only medal Leon Hermant is known to have done.  It is a very handsome landscape rendering that makes me wish he had done some more.

The rectangular plaquette measures 81.6mm x 52.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-029

References:   BG 24

The medal's obverse bears the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, depicting Zeus seated on a throne, holding a scepter in his left hand and a figure of Victory; priests at his feet provide a measure of scale.

The reverse bears calendar panel in three columns surrounded by twelve scenes depicting Heracles' Labors. At top of middle panel, 2001

Heracles was Zeus' mortal son who is said to have established the Olympic Games to honor his father. Heracles' Twelve Labors are a series of episodes concerning a penance carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. They were accomplished over 12 years at the service of King Eurystheus.

The medals were originally offered for a price of $34.95 per bronze piece and $169.00 per silver piece.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in antiqued bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayon, Nevada. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-2001

The medal's obverse bears a winged cherub holding two laurel crowns. At lower right, GLORIA.

The reverse bears a cicada flanked by FA - MA; in lower right Jennewein's distinctive signature, a stylized facial profile, CPJ / 1933 / ©. The border is boldly beaded.

Jennewein contrasts Glory and Fame, two aspects of achievement and recognition, on a medal, which itself is often used as an award. He thus makes a subtle point not just about the distinction between fame and glory but also about the medium itself. In his "Message from the Artist" Jennewein wrote:

"Fame and Glory are symbolized in this medal as the elements in the life of men which the awarding of medals is designed to promote and recognize. But the artist has made a subtle distinction between that Glory which, unsought, belongs to those who aspire, strive and sacrifice for a great ideal, and that Fame which is won by self-seeking in the attainment of public eminence for the gratification of personal power and vanity."

He used the cicada as a symbol for the latter because its "noisy and shrill self-assertion gains wide hearing but is only the discordant demonstration of an obstreperous but insignificant creature." If Jennewein was annoyed by this type of person, I wonder what he would make of much of modern pop culture...

This medal was chosen as the 7th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York reportedly struck 1,237 pieces in bronze and 125 (out of 700 authorized) in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-007, Marqusee 209, SoM 7

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

References:   BG 13

This freestanding medallion depicts a chameleon with curled up tail eyeing a fly sitting on leaf below.

MAny thanks to the artist for sharing his photo with me.

The uniface medal bears portraits of John J. Bausch and Henry Lomb, their names on banner below. Around, within beaded border, 75th ANNIVERSARY BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. ROCHESTER, N.Y.; under busts, FOUNDERS / 1853 - 1928; signed at right truncation, A.A. KOLB