All Medals

References:   MACo 1949-016

The obverse bears hand with flame bracelet holding infant and moon before swirling clouds and lighning. Divided by hand, FIAT - VITA; signed at bottom with large circled © and FRANCISCI ··· around.

The reverse bears streams of plasma, stars, and lightning around cloudy center, suggesting the creation of the cosmos.

De Francisci picked Creation as the theme for this medal and succeeded in creating a beautiful medal that combines both the religious and the scientific approaches in one model. The obverse shows the hand of the creator, on which rests a bold infant, secure in its place in the center of the universe. On the reverse we have a more scientific image of swirling gas clouds, hinting at cosmological processes of creation.

As de Francisci put it in his "Sculptor's Message," which focused on the scientific explanation:

"The advent of life, either in its rudimentary or complex organism, is based on the hypothesis that life could evolve and endure on all planets receiving heat and light from a central orb."

The scalloped edge incorporated the medal as a whole into the design and made it even more special.

This medal was chosen as the twelfth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1935. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the medal measures 72mm in diameter and has a reported production quantity of 1,165 in silver-plated bronze and 100 in silver. This medal was re-issued in silver in 1993 as part of a promotion. The mintage of that re-issue is not known.

References:   MACo 1930-001-012, Marqusee 160, SoM 12

References:   ANS 3

The medal's obverse bears glass and hand in the center, flanked by the company's headquarters in 1842 and the company's contemporary headquarters. Over buildings, 1842 / 1942; around, OUR HAND HAS NEVER / LOST ITS SKILL; at lower right, signed R. CHAMBELLAN SC.

The medal's reverse bears border of hops and grain around center field with inscription: TO / COMMEMORATE / OUR 100TH YEAR / THE F.&M. SCHAEFER / BREWING CO. / AMERICA'S OLDEST LAGER BEER.

The F.&M. Schaefer Brewery is the longest operating brewery in New York City, the last operating brewery in New York City [as of 1976], and America's oldest lager beer brewing company - all these honors, plus many others, belong to the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company.

"F. & M." stands for Frederick and Maximilian, the brothers who founded Schaefer. Frederick Schaefer, a native of Wetzlar, Prussia, Germany, emigrated to the U.S. in 1838. When he arrived in New York City on October 23rd he was 21 years old and had exactly $1.00 to his name. There is some doubt as to whether or not he had been a practicing brewer in Germany, but there is no doubt that he was soon a practicing brewer in his adopted city. Within two weeks of his landing, Frederick took a job with Sebastian Sommers, who operated a small brewhouse on Broadway, between 18th and 19th Streets. Frederick obviously enjoyed both his job and life in America, and the next year his younger brother, Maximilian, decided to make the arduous trip across the Atlantic also. He arrived in June of 1839 and brought with him a formula for lager, a type of beer popular in Germany but unheard of in the United States. The brothers dreamed, and planned, and saved - and in the late summer of 1842 they were able to buy the small brewery from Sommers. The official, and historic, starting date was September, 1842.

In 1981, the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company was purchased by the Stroh Brewery Company. In 1999, the Stroh Brewery Company was in turn bought by the Pabst Brewing Company which continues to sell Schaefer Beer today.

This medal measures 76mm (3in) in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1941-046

The uniface medallion bears portrait of Henry L. Stimson, facing left. To his right, (CA) for the Century Association; on banner around bottom, HENRY · L · STIMSON; signed and dated under truncation, MANSHIP / 1950

Henry Lewis Stimson (1867-1950) was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in the foreign policy of the United States, serving in Republican and Democratic administrations. He served as Secretary of War (1911-1913) under William Howard Taft, Secretary of State (1929-1933) under Herbert Hoover, and Secretary of War (1940-1945) under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Stimson served as the Century Association's president from 1937 to 1939.

A galvano of Paul Manship's medallion was used as the model for the Henry L. Stimson medal, which is presented annually to outstanding Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District and in the Eastern District of New York.

The medallion measures around 100mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. It is not known how many medallions were cast.

References:   Murtha 512

References:   MACo 1929-064

References:   MACo 1930-001-001, Marqusee 174, SoM 1

The medal's obverse bears Uncle Sam, carrying pickaxe over shoulder with one hand and holding spade with other, spade handle bisecting the Americas in background at the isthmus. Around, PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION SAN DIEGO 1915

The reverse bears view of S.S. Ancon in canal lock. Around, PANAMA CANAL OPENED BY S.S. ANCON / OFFICIAL SOUVENIR; in exergue, AUG. 15. 1914

The circular medal measures 34mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears kneeling female representing Friendliness, with arms outstretched at aerial view of fair grounds. Around, incuse, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST EXPOSITION / LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA 1928; in exergue, FRIENDLINESS;

The reverse bears art-deco styled winged female wearing Victory crown and holding blank cartouche for inscription. Signed at lower left, R. N. Burnham

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-031

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Louis Schoenfeld, facing left. Around top, LOVIS SCHOENFELD - MDCCCXL - MCMX ·; signed to right of neck, M.P. NIELSEN / FECIT

The reverse bears laurel branch along left edge. Across, NOV. 30TH / · 1840 / - · + · - / NOV. 18TH / · 1910 / - · + · -; around bottom right, JOS. MAYER INC.

Louis Schoenfeld (1840-1910) was a Seattle businessman who founded the Standard Furniture Company in 1864.  Originally from Virginia City, Nevada, he relocated family and business to Seattle in 1887.

The circular medal measures 34.9mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Joseph Mayer, Inc. of Seattle, Washington.