All Medals

The medal's obverse bears medallic rendition of John Trumbull's painting "The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill," showing General Warren on the ground, held by a fellow Colonial, with British troops closing in from the right. Around top, BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL; at bottom, 1775.

The reverse bears view of the Bunker Hill memorial obelisk. To its left, TO / COMMEMORATE / THE / 150TH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE / BATTLE OF / BUNKER HILL / 1775 - 1925; signed around lower left, KILENYI

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17th, 1775. Two days earlier, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to send troops out from the city to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, which would give them control of Boston Harbor. In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. During the night, the colonists constructed a strong redoubt on Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula.

By daybreak of June 17, the British became aware of the presence of colonial forces on the Peninsula and mounted an attack against them that day. Two assaults on the colonial positions were repulsed with significant British casualties; the third and final attack carried the redoubt after the defenders ran out of ammunition. The colonists retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula.

While the British won the battle, they lost over a thousand men, more than 100 of them officers. General Clinton, echoing Pyrrhus of Epirus, remarked in his diary that "A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America."

My instance of the medal is dedicated on the edge to the colorful Boston mayor James Michael Curley. I don't know whether all instances are thus marked or whether my instance was Curley's personal medal.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

The plaque's obverse bears portrait of young woman, facing right.

The reverse is inscribed with: you are my / life and heart /  forever in this world / my only love Rose / Paul Cricchio

This beautiful declaration of love by the artist to his wife or future wife is mounted on a wooden board with a cut-out that in turn is covered by a latched brass lid.  Upon opening the lid, the dedication becomes visible.

The plaque measures 247mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No production numbers are reported.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Paul Jones, facing left; ship under full sail to his right. Around, · THE · HALL · OF · FAME · FOR · GREAT · AMERICANS AT NEW · YORK · UNIVERSITY · ; thirteen stars underneath; across left, JOHN / PAUL / JONES / 1747 / 1792; signed and dated at bottom, (ML monogram) 1968 ©

The reverse bears Jones holding cutlass on deck of sinking ship, three boarders swinging from rigging to his right.

This medal is the 53rd issue of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University medal series.

The medal was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  The bronze variants exist in large 76.7mm and small 44mm diameters, the silver variant only in the small diameter. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1963-001-053, GANYU 53

This medal's obverse bears the seal of New York City. Around, · INTERNATIONAL ···· PHILATELIC · EXHIBITION · NEW · YORK · / MCMXIII; signed over roman year numerals, MAX BACHMANN.

The reverse bears a laurel branch at left. On right side, SOUVENIR / OF / OFFICIAL / BANQUET / OCTOBER 30TH / 1913; marked STERLING under branch.

Max Bachman also created the award medal for the Exhibition. It shares this medal's obverse but has a different legend on the reverse.

The circular medal measures 41mm in diameter and was struck in Sterling silver. No mintages are reprorted.

The uniface medal bears lion rampant, tail raised proudly, facing right within bold geometric border.  At top, LEO; in small exergue at bottom, MACO © 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. It comes after Cancer and before Virgo. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area approximately between July 23 and August 22; The sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.

Leo is a fixed sign along with Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area on average between July 23 and August 22 each year, and under the sidereal zodiac, the Sun currently transits this area from approximately August 16 to September 15. The symbol of the lion is based on the Nemean lion, a lion with an impenetrable hide. It is a northern sign and its opposite southern sign is Aquarius

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-008

References:   Baxter 304, MACo 1914-011, Marqusee 338

The medal's obverse bears Independence Hall with sun rays behind, flanked by two branches, thirteen stars above, all within beaded border. Under building, INDEPENDENCE HALL / PHILA, PA.;  around bottom, SOUVENIR OF PHILA, PA.

The medal's reverse bears Liberty Bell. To left and right, 1776 - 1926; around, SESQUI CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / OFFICIAL SOUVENIR

The circular medal measures 31.6mm in diameter. No further information is known to me at this point. Any additional details would be appreciated.

The uniface medal's obverse bears art deco style hand holding a chemical flask in front of plinth with winged steed. To left and around, 30 / YEAR OF - FRIENDLY RELATIONS; at lower right, GOOD (winged foot logo) YEAR / A LEADER IN / RESEARCH; signed at bottom right, (RC monogram)

This is the 30 year version of Rene Chambellan's Goodyear series of medallions. All of these medallions came mounted to a wooden board to be hung in offices or shops that were selling Goodyear product. The design of this medal borrows heavily from another medal Chambellan designed in the same year. That medal was a generic Arts award medal that did not include the chemical vessels but shared the basic design with this medal.

The circular medal measures 108mm and is struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1948-041-005

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of old Benjamin Franklin facing right. Across top, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASS'N; signed diagonally down under truncation, ANDREW C. McHENCH Sc.

The reverse is inscibed: 1956 / CHICAGO CONVENTION / PRESENTED FOR / EXCELLENCE / OF EXHIBIT / FIRST AWARD / HEROLD DERMODY

The plaquette is based on a much earlier design by Andrew McHench. Clyde C. Trees of the Medallic Art Company acquired the design in 1931.  Starting in 1956 it was used as as stock medal.

References:   MACo 1931-030

References:   CoF 6, Marqusee 115