All Medals

The uniface medal bears kneeling hunter, facing right, in pose of arrow just released Between hunter's face and bow, SAGI- / TTARIUS; at lower left, in tiny letters, © 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.

Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Sagittarius and spans 240–270th degrees of the zodiac. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits this sign between approximately November 23 and December 21. Greek mythology associates Sagittarius with the centaur Chiron, who mentored Achilles in archery.

Along with Aries and Leo, Sagittarius is a part of the Fire Trigon. Its ruling planet is Jupiter.

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

References:   MACo 1967-151-012

The medal's obverse bears corporate building with flag at top, scenes from corporate life in ring around small raised center field bearing roman numerals from VII to XII followed by I through VI arranged in old-fashioned, semi-circular floor display style, snowflake and flowers beneath.

The reverse bears legend only. Around, · QUALITY · RESPONSIBILITY · MUTUALITY ·  / EFFICIENCY · FREEDOM; in center field, IN / RECOGNITION / OF YOUR PERSONAL / CONTRIBUTION / TO OUR SUCCESS / (cartouche inscribed to John F. Bozzuffi / 15 Years) / (M&M / MARS logo)

My guess is that the centerfield represent a commitment to not let work intrude into private life. Work is represented by the roman numerals indicating the time from 7am to 6pm. Private life is symbolized by the snowflake and the flowers.

This is the 15 year service medal of M&M Mars. Like Goodyear many years earlier, they Mars chose different medal designs for different lengths of service or association.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in idameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 162

References:   MACo 1930-001-052, SoM 52

The obverse bears Henry Hudson and sailors on the Halve Maen during the hoisting of some freight onto the ship. Around top, DISCOVERY OF HUDSON RIVER BY HENRY HUDSON A D MDCIX; at lower left, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY; at lower right, HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMM.; in exergue, HALVE MAEN; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

The reverse bears three seated female figures representing Steam Navigation, History, and Commerce; above, portrait of Robert Fulton. In background, views of New York in 1807 and 1909. Below portrait, ROBERT FULTON / 1765 1815; in exergue, FIRST USE OF STEAM NAVIGATION / ON THE HUDSON RIVER / 1807; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

This medal, in one of its many variants, is probably one of the most common ANS medals being traded. There are 15 known variants ranging from 1¼in silver-plated to 3in gold and 4in silver. Even the large gold variant had 11 pieces produced! This is probably the most successful ANS medal ever.

This medal was the 23rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The offical medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Tiffany & Company of New York as well as Whitehead and Hoag of Newark. The reported mintage for the official ANS issue is 100 pieces in silver but there is a wide range of variants that are listed separately.

References:   ANS 23, Marqusee 186,187

The medal's obverse bears shoulder-length portrait of Native American woman within central roundel, facing left, surrounded by ornate border of fruit and flowers with four superimposed circular medallions bearing letters "XX", "C", "I", and "A," counter-clockwise.

The reverse bears large flower at center, surrounded by legend within line border, XX CONGRESSO-INTERNACIONAL DE AMERICANISTAS / RIO DE JANEIRO / 1875 BRAZIL 1922

The International Congress of Americanists is an international academic conference for research in multidisciplinary studies of the Americas. Established August 25, 1875 in Nancy, France, the scholars' forum has met regularly since its inception, presently in three year increments, with the exception of World War II. Its meeting location alternates between Europe and the Americas. Congress members come from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, art, education, economy, geography, history, human rights, law, philosophy, linguistics, sociology, and urban studies.

The circular medal measures 61.5mm in diameter and was struck in copper. Neither mintage, nor mint, nor artist are known to me.

The obverse bears nude Columbia seated on winged car, holding palm frond in outstretched left and resting right on cornucopia; on left, rising sun over clouds; on right, clouds. At left above sun, 1892; signed at right with artist's letter V.

The reverse bears dedication: TO / Martin Roche / ONE OF THE DESIGNERS / OF THE WORLD'S / COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / ON THE FOURHUNDREDTH / ANNIVERSARY / OF THE LANDING OF / COLUMBUS / OCTOBER 21 / 1892

Martin Roche was part owner of the famous architectural firm of "Holabird and Roche", one of the most prolific firms in Chicago. They are known for the Marquette Building, the neo-classical Soldier Field and the New South Wales Building of the Columbian Exposition. The firm was renamed after William Holabird and Martin Roche died and is now known as "Holabird and Root."

Elihu Vedder is famous and well known for his paintings, in particular his illustrations for "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam." He is less well known for his medallic work but this medal is a beautiful and rare example of his skill as a sculptor.

This medal exists in several variations and materials.  Vedder's obvese is combined with different dedications to honor designers, managers, and other high-ranking dignitaries of the Exposition.  All variations are quite rare.

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whiting Manufacturing Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears eagle, about to launch itself into the air, broken chain links at its talons.

The reverse bears two-line maker's mark: TOWLE / SOM © 1977

This paperweight is part of a small series of promotional items that were manufactured in the 1970's. The obverse sides of some of the earlier, more popular Society of Medalists medals were taken and issued as paperweights. The attempt proved commercially unsuccessful.

The circular paperweight measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1936-002

References:   HSoNY 1904