All Medals

The medal's obverse bears Americans from colonial to modern times walking, riding, and driving around the circumference, with some airplanes mixed in for good measure. In raised circular center, the American Bicentennial logo surrounded by AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL / 1776 - 1976; signed with artist's (JOV monogram) at top right; at lower right, MACO / © 1975

The reverse bears square calendar panel in center, flanked by the PHiladelphia Christ Church steeple on the left and a launching Saturn V rocket on the right; Eagle holding streamer with THE / BICENTENNIAL / YEAR in its beak on top, Paul Revere on horseback at the bottom; at left bottom of calendar panel, 1976.

The American Bicentennial was a huge marketing extravaganza that caused a multitude of medals to be issued.   Marcel Jovine created a thematically appropripate design in his inimitable circular style. 

This is one of the few Calendar medals that were issued in different sizes.  A limited edition 3.75" medallion was offered to collectors in addtion to the normal 3" medal.  I am not aware of any medals in silver though I would not be terribly surprised to find out that a few had been struck.  The 1970s were a time of sky-high silver prices and 3" silver medals would have represented a significant investment.

References:   MACo 1975-134, Cal MA-1976

The uniface medallion bears two eagles facing three quarters left, perched on streamer with raised GOOD (logo) YEAR inscription.  Below, 60 / YEARS OF / FRIENDLY / RELATIONS

The medallion is unsigned and much ligher than its siblings, much more like a galvano shell than a minted medal.

The medallion is not listed in Dick Johnson's reference and I am not sure that it can really be attributed to Rene Paul Chambellan, but based on the fact that he did all the other medallions in the series I am going to "pencil him in" as the medallions designer. 

The medallion measures 104mm in diameter and was in all likelihood manufactured by the Medallic Art Company.  No mintage is reported but, based on my auction experience so far, this is among the rarest of the Goodyear medallions.

References:   MACo 1948-041-x60

The medal's obverse bears technician at control station in midst of gigantic turbine wheels and gears.

The reverse bears Westinghouse W logo in center field. Around, CHARLOTTE TURBINE (lighning bolt) GENERATOR PLANT / 1969 - CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF QUALITY - 1989

I am partial to well-down technical designs and I really like this medal's obverse. It is nice to see a corporate commemorative from this period that went beyond the "logo and motto" design.

Any information on the artist would be deeply appreciated.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Deere,facing half right. Around, HE GAVE THE WORLD THE STEEL PLOUGH; in exergue, JOHN DEERE; signed over shoulder at left, KILENYI

The reverse bears steel plough. Around, JOHN DEERE / CENTENNIAL; in center field, 1837 / 1937

John Deere (1804-1886) is the founder of Deere & Company, better known under its brand name John Deere. Deere briefly attended Middlebury College in his homestate of Vermont before becoming the apprentice of Captain Benjamin Lawrence, a successful Middlebury blacksmith.  He started his own shop in 1826 but it failed in 1836.  In 1837 he left Vermont for Grand Detour, Illinois, and started a new shop which became the seed from which the well-known company grew.

His key invention was the steel plow, which solved the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which in turn forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.

John Deere served as President of the company till his death at the age of 82.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. No mintage is reported.

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Gallatin facing right.

The reverse bears dedication in large letters, ALBERT GALLATIN / from / his friend / Paul Manship / March / 1955

Albert Gallatin (1881-1952) was an American collector, painter, and critic who founded the Gallery of Living Art at New York University in 1927. Nine years later he renamed his institution the Museum of Living Art. The Gallery of Living Art was one of the first in America to display works by contemporary European artists such as Pablo Picasso and Fernand Léger. In 1937, Gallatin became a member of the American Abstract Artists Group, which encouraged American artists to "break the rules" as European modernists had done.

Gallatin and Manship both had strong ties to New York City and Massachusetts, so it is not surprising that they knew each other well. Though Manship was a strong and lifelong traditionalist in his work, he obviously admired Gallatin and his passion for modern art. The inscription on the reverse reflects the tradition of artists dedicating works to one another out of friendship and professional respect.

The circular medallion measures 92.5mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears American eagle holding arrows and olive branch in its talons on shield over crossed cannon barrels and fasces; large round knob at top.

The reverse bears a scroll for dedication and two protruding bearings, unholed.

It is unknown whether Manship created this design for a commission, a design competition, or independently from a sense of patriotic fervor. Manship certainly was a fierce patriot who did what he could to support the war effort. The exact date for this design is also not known but one of the other designs, the Army Valor decoration, has a sample date of 1918 inscribed on the reverse.  They all date roughly to the end of World War I, probably 1918 or 1919.

The cast bronze measures approximately 64.3mm x 79.5mm and weighs 251.7g.

References:   BG 40

References:   Cal HM-1996

The uniface medal's obverse bears city view of Baltimore with Washington Monument in center and Sherwood Brothers S logo at bottom. Around, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY SHERWOOD BROTHERS INCORPORATED / 1896 - 1946; to left of monument, WASHINGTON / MONUMENT / BALTIMORE / MARYLAND

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1971-013-011, WR 11