All Medals

References:   Murtha 209

The paperweight bears view of Statue of Liberty with cloudy sky. In exergue, GENERAL / SILK IMPORTING / CO. INC. / NEW YORK

The General Silk Importing Company was founded in 1916 when the Klots Throwing Company, a large processor of raw silk, bough the silk importing house Villa Stearns. That company's executive, J. H. Britton, became vide president at Klots and Villa Stearns was renamed to General Silk Importing Company.  After further growth, declining profits and the Great Depression forced the company into bankrupcy in 1932.

The paperweight has two round feet at the upper end and measures 71.2mm x 127.4mm. It was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears an American soldier giving water to a wounded comrade. In exergue, (circled BN) / ©. The reverse bears a mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion over avast plane of corpses. To left and right, WORLD UNITY - OR OBLIVION.

In his "Message from the Artist" Nebel wrote:

"Modern warfare has developed to such a degree that civilization may vanish from the earth unless there is to be an understanding among nations, and this medal was designed to help impress that thought which, I believe, is uppermost in our minds."

It is fascinating to see this medal in the context of its predecessor (For Conquer We Must). The prior medal is soul-stirring and up-lifting in its depiction of courageous soldiers at one of the iconic moments of war. Only half a year later, the war has been won, and soldiers are depicted wounded or dead. The price of victory and the question of "What now?" has arrived very prominently.

This medal was chosen as the 32nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York reportedly struck 839 medals in bronze and 60 (out of 700 authorized) in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-032, Marqusee 294, SoM 32

The medal's obverse bears crossed flagpoles with Japanese and American flags draped over middle, sprig of laurel on top; at bottom, two oak branches under Gorham hallmark of Lion passant, anchor, and Gothic G.

The reverse bears legend, PRESENTED · TO / THE · MEMBERS · OF / JAPANESE · COMMISSION / ON · THEIR · VISIT / · / TO / THE · GORHAM / MANUFACTURING CO / PROVIDENCE, R.I. / U.S.A. / OCT. 22 . 1909

In 1909, Eiichi Shibusawa led the Japanese Commercial Commission visit to the United States. This group of fifty business leaders met with chambers of commerce in major cities across America including Seattle, Portland, New York, Denver, Los Angeles, and obviously also visited the factory of Gorham Co. in Providence, Rhode Island. Meetings with American leaders like financier J.P. Morgan, inventor Thomas Edison, and President William Howard Taft completed the schedule.

It is believed that Japanese and American business leaders were desperately seeking to emphasize their common commercial interests in the midst of rising political and racial tensions between their two countries.

The circular medal measures 55mm in diameter and was cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island.  No mintage is reported but the fact that this medal was presented only to visiting commission members and cast instead of struck indicates a very small number, probably around 50.

Images of the bronze medal courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

The medal's obverse bears view of L. Bamberger & Co.'s Newark flagship store.

The reverse bears legend within wreath, L. BAMBERGER Co. / NEWARK, N.J. / 1893 - 1912

Louis Bamberger (1855-1944) was born in Baltimore and came to Newark in 1892.  He purchased the bankrupt dry goods emporium Hill & Craig at auction. and renamed it L. Bamberger & Company. Under Bamberger’s leadership,  the store became very successful.  In 1912 he opened the first section of his completely redone store to the public. This is the event commemorated by this medal.  He eventually sold his empire to Macy's, which kept the Bamberger brand alive till 1986.  The Newark store was finally closed in 1991.

The circular medal measures 74.6mm in diameter and was probably struck by Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, New Jersey, but I can't be sure because the medal bears neither an artist's signature nor maker's marks.  Any additional information would be welcome.

The obverse bears the well-known reverse of the Athenian tetradrachm with owl, olive branch and ΑΘΕ. Around patinated background, - THOMAS J. WATSON - MEMORIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

The reverse bears year in center field, 19 / 63; around, - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

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

The medal was commissioned by IBM as a physical token accompanying the more significant scholarship grant. As of 2014, the Thomas J. Watson Memorial Merit Scholarship awarded $2,000 per year to high achieving children of IBM employees. The grant is renewable for 4 years. Summer internship opportunities are also available to recipients.

The medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1961-013

References:   MACo 1930-001-044, SoM 44

The medal's obverse bears nurse bent over hospital bed with soldier, table with plant and window in background. In exergue, Au service de la Souffrance; signed in bottom right cotner, G. DEVREESE.

The reverse bears enameled red cross shield over laurel branches.  Around top, CROIX ROUGE DE BELGIQUE; across, EN SOUVENIR / DES SERVICES RENDUS / AU COURS DE LA GUERRE / 1914 - 1919

The medal measures 63.6mm x 69mm and was struck in bronze by the Jules Fonson mint. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-040, SoM 40