All Medals

The medal's obverse shows Marshall Foch, facing left, above a wreath of laurels. Around, HOMAGE FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO THE VICTORIOUS COMMANDER; signed at lower left C.E.D

The reverse bears two female figures jointly holding wreath with inscribed FOCH; figure at left, symbolizing America, holds shield emblazoned with starts and stripes; figure at right, one breast bared, symbolizing France, holds shield with Massachusetts Native American. Above, IN GRATEFUL / SALUTATION; signed at bottom, NOV. 14 1921 C E Dallin

Marshall Foch (1851-1929) was the Allied Commander-in-Chief who led the French, British, American, and Italian forces to victory in World War I. In 1921 he visited the United States as a guest of the American Legion and received a hero's welcome at every station.

The circular medal was produced by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

References:   HSoNY 1912

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Charles Platt facing left. Around, · CHARLES · PLATT · ARCHITECT · MCMXVIII ·

The reverse bears nude unwinged putto resting one foot on a corner of little temple's roof while measuring it with calipers; streamer bearing LABORE - ET - CONSTANTIA held in other hand; signed in exergue, Paul Manship / Rome

Charles Adams Platt (1861-1933) designed many museum buildings, including the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art, which was commissioned in 1913 and opened to the public ten years later. Both Platt and Manship were participants in the famous artists’ colony at Cornish, New Hampshire.

The classical tempietto (little temple) and calipers on the reverse symbolize Platt's profession as an architect. The Latin motto translates roughly to "toil and fidelity" and appears on the coats of arms of many European families.

The circular medallion measures 96mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears caucasian male facing away, head turned to his left; blockhouse in background. Around, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION; on male figure's back, 120TH / ANNIVERSARY / CONVENTION / CHICAGO / AUGUST 16-20, 2011; signed at lower left, JNF

The reverse bears Native American warrior with tomahawk, facing right; flag with four stars in background.  Around, BATTLE OF FORT DEARBORN - MDCCCXII

The Battle of Fort Dearborn was an engagement between United States troops and Potawatomi Native Americans that occurred on August 15, 1812, near Fort Dearborn in what is now Chicago, Illinois, but was then part of the Illinois Territory.  The battle, which occurred during the War of 1812, immediately followed the evacuation of the fort as ordered by the commander of the United States Army of the Northwest, William Hull. The battle lasted about 15 minutes and resulted in a complete victory for the Native Americans. After the battle, Fort Dearborn was burned down. Some of the soldiers and settlers who had survived and were taken captive were later ransomed.

Following the battle, the federal government became convinced that all Indians had to be removed from the territory and the vicinity of any settlements, as settlers continued to migrate to the area. The fort was rebuilt in 1816.

The medal measures 69.6mm in diameter and was struck by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The mintage was limited to 125 pieces.

The medal's obvese bears a desert scene from a trading caravan with camel at left and group of two Bedouins haggling over a length of cloth; camels in background on sand dune. Signed at bottom right, KILENYI

The obverse bears city with factories in background. In lower half, NATIONAL RETAIL DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION / REPLICA OF MEDALS / AWARDED TO / CARLOS B. CLARK AND LEW HAHN / FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE / TO THE CRAFT / PRESENTED FEBRUARY 7. 1929

Clark and Hahn each received a gold medal that was named to them. Another 18 gold medals were issued over the next 30 years. One gold-plated medal named to Seidel is kjnown to exist. 

Many thanks to Harry Waterson for the detailed information on variants and mintages.

The medal's obverse bears the university's coat of arms. Above and below, UNIVERSITY / OF / PENNSYLVANIA; to left and right, 1740 - 1940; in streamer across, LEGES - SINE MORIBUS - VANAE

The reverse bears a herm crowned by wo heads, oil lamp to left, light bulb on right. On both sides, TEMP- / ORIS LUX - ILLUSTRET / ACTI - POSTERITATIS / VIAM; in exergue, © / (RTM monogram) / 1938

R. Tait McKenzie designed this medal before his death in 1938.  The dies were created in 1939 and used to commemorate a 1940 event celebrating the 200th anniversary of the university.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1939-004

References:   MACo 1965-063

The medal's obverse bears Icarus, depicted in αflight, his body stretching upwards at right, wings extended behind him at left; clouds around. Around lower left, SPIRIT ‧ OF ‧ SAINT ‧ LOUIS; on cloud below wing, Ικαςοs / 1927; signed around lower right, V ‧ S ‧ H ‧ SC

The reverse bears the AMSE symbol of globe on fulcrum in clouds, arm extending from right, holding the lever. Below, empty cartouche and FOR  ‧ MERITORIOUS ‧ SERVICE / IN ‧ THE ‧ ADVANCEMENT / OF ‧ AERONAUTICS / MCMXXIX; all surrounded by  ‧ THE ‧ AMERICAN ‧ SOCIETY ‧ OF ‧ / MECHANICAL ‧ ENGINEERS

This very handsome award medal depicts Icarus in a somewhat unusal fashion.  Usually, he is seen flying horizontally or tumbling from the sky.  This medal, as appropriate for an aeronautics award, focuses on his ascent rather than his tragic descent.

The circular medal measures 69.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported but based on its auction appearance, or better, the lack thereof, it is pretty rare. 

References:   MACo 1929-047

Chambellan designed this medal in the early 1930's for the National Association of Manufacturers.

The obverse bears the Statue of Liberty in the center with light radiating from behind its head. From left to right depictions of the Capitol, orator in front of listening crowd, church, printing press, machinery, and skyscrapers. Above, LIBERTY; signed R. CHAMBELLAN SC.

The reverse bears bowl of fire labeled FREEDOM resting on tripod with legs inscribed REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and FREE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. Workers and a mother with children in front of smokestacks and buildings. Along rim on left, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS.

This medal expresses the belief in the benefits of a capitalist democracy, with economic freedom being one of the pillars on which freedom rests.

This bronze medal has a diameter of 76mm and weighs 171g. It was struck by the Medallic Art Company in New York.

References:   MACo 1940-064, Marqusee 108

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Jones in uniform, facing right. Around, JOANNI  PAVLO JONES / CLASSIS PRAEFECTO. / COMITIA AMERICANA.; signed under truncation, DUPRE. F.

The reverse bears smoking Bonhomme Richard, holed and with broken mast, facing left, in front of the foremast and bowsprit of Serapis; fighting sailors and rubbish are visible in the water and Alliance resides in the background. Around, HOSTIVM NAVIBVS - CAPTIS AVT FVGATIS.; in exergue, AD ORAM SCOTIAE XXIII SEPT. / M.DCCLXXVIIII · / DUPRE. F.

The Battle of Flamborough Head was a naval battle that took place on 23 September 1779 in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire between a combined Franco-American squadron, led by Continental Navy officer John Paul Jones, and two British escort vessels protecting a large merchant convoy. It became one of the most celebrated naval actions of the war, despite its relatively small size and considerable dispute over what had actually occurred.  Regardless, the myth of the battle is as important or maybe even more important than the actual battle.

Jones commanded a small squadron from the ship Bonhomme Richard, a converted India Trader.  When they ran into a large Baltic trade convoy under the protection of the HMS Seraphis and the hired vessel Countess of Scarborough,

Jones decided to attack.  With his ship outgunned and outclassed, he strove to equalize the odds by locking the ships together and engaging in close quarters combat.  With Jones' ship burning and sinking beneath him and most of his crew killed, so the story has it, Jones rejected requests for surrender by shouting "I have not yet begun to fight!" and "I may sink but I'll be damned if I strike!" 

When a lucky grenade caused a chain reaction of explosions on the British vessel, the USS Alliance finally joined the fight and the Seraphis surrendered.

The battle, while strategically unimportant, had a huge effect on the morale of the American and French Navies. The seemingly invincible British navy could be defeated in messy, gutsy battle.

As all Comitia Americana medals, there are numerous restrikes, both by the French Mint and the U.S. Mint, and I am not a specialist in this area of numismatics. Maybe a reader can help out with a guide on how to distinguish originals from later copies.