All Medals

The medal's obverse bears muscular nude male figure in dynamic flying pose, cradling globe in sling made from cable loops. Around top edge, SAMVEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE MEDAL; signed below feet at right, (LGF monogram)

The medal's reverse bears sextant over compass rose in center, fleur-de-lis and two shrouded nudes at top. Around, AMERICAN - N - GEOGRAPHICAL · SOCIETY ·

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was a successful portrait painter before he became world-famous by contributing significantly to the the invention of a single-wire telegraph system. He was the co-inventor of the still used Morse code and spent the second phase of his life in telegraphy-related pursuits. His role as telegraphy's inventor and near-monopolist was challenged several times and while his achievements were never denied, the scope of his patents was eventually limited by the famous O'Reilly v. Morse Supreme Court decision.

The Samuel Finley Breese Morse Medal was established as an award in 1902. The medal is awarded by the American Geographical Society for "achievements and pioneering in geographical research." The AGS itself was founded in 1851 by 31 wealthy New Yorkers in response to the request of Lady Franklin to search for her husband and his voyagers lost in the Polar Franklin Expedition.

The circular medallion measures an impressive 101.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for sending me the images of this beautiful medal.

References:   MACo 1928-021

The medal's obverse bears four tractors arrayed around the John Deere logo in the center. At top, John Deere's last 2-cylinder tracter, the model 830; at left, the 6-cylinder model 4010 which arrived in 1960; at right, a model 4630 that was introduced in the 1970s; finally, at the bottom, a 50 series tractor that was introduced in 1982.

The reverse bears calendar panel inscribed into tractor's front, lights and logo above, large tractor tires to both sides. At bottom, 1983.

The medal is not signed and Dick Johnson's reference does not list it.  The most likely candidates for the artist(s) who worked on them are Gladys Gunzer and David Castruccio, who worked on other Deere medals in the 1980s, but I can't attribute them for sure.  Any information confirming or rejecting my speculations would be welcome.

The John Deere Calendar medals were distributed by the Lee Wayne Company.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal JD-1983

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Herman Page, Bishop of Michigan. Around, · HERMAN PAGE BISHOP OF MICHIGAN · / 1924 - 1940; signed at right, KILENYI

The reverse bears bishopric seal. Around, AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS + IN WORD + IN CONVERSATION + IN CHARITY + IN SPIRIT + IN FAITH + IN PURITY / I TIMOTHY / - IV - 12

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The reported mintage is 500 pieces in bronze.

References:   Cal HM-1996

The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Helmholtz, facing right, squinting through an optical instrument. Around top right, HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ; signed at lower left, DAUB

The reverse show optical diagram of object, lenses and observer's eye to left.

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions in several scientific fields.

In physiology and psychology, he is known for his mathematics of the eye, theories of vision, ideas on the visual perception of space, color vision research, and on the sensation of tone, perception of sound, and empiricism in the physiology of perception.

In physics, he is known for his theories on the conservation of energy, work in electrodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, and on a mechanical foundation of thermodynamics.

As a philosopher, he is known for his philosophy of science, ideas on the relation between the laws of perception and the laws of nature, the science of aesthetics, and ideas on the civilizing power of science.

The circular medallion measures 98mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No mintage is reported.

This medal's obverse bears bust of younger, unbearded Lincoln right. Around, 1809 ★ ABRAHAM ★★ LINCOLN ★ 1865; signed over shoulder at left, Zearing

The reverse bears excerpts from Lincoln's second inaugural address at top and his Cooper Union address at bottom. The excerpts are: WITH / MALICE TOWARD / NONE ⚪ WITH CHARITY / FOR ALL ⚪ WITH FIRMNESS / IN THE RIGHT AS GOD / GIVES VS TO SEE THE / RIGHT LET VS STRIVE ON / (thirteen stars) / LET VS HAVE FAITH THAT / RIGHT MAKES MIGHT AND / IN THAT FAITH LET VS / TO THE END DARE TO / DO OVR DVTY AS WE / VNDERSTAND IT

The two quotations on the reverse are taken from two of Lincoln's famous speeches. The first quotation is from the end of his second inaugural address on March 4th, 1865. The second quotation is from his February 27, 1860 address at the Cooper Union in New York.

This was one of many medals created for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.

The medal measures 45.4mm and was struck in silver, bronze, gilt, copper, brass, aluminum and white metal.

The medal's obverse bears female kneeling in field with her hands in the earth, spatula stuckin ground next to her; column of soldiers marching from left to right in background. Across, UNITES / STATES - OF / AMERICA

The medal's reverse bears full basket of vegetables with carrot and pumpkins lying next to it. Around top, NATIONAL · WAR · GARDEN · COMMISSION; in extergue, crossed rifle and hoe; across, THE SEEDS OF VICTORY / INSURE THE FRUITS OF PEACE / 1914 - 1919; signed at lower right, TIFFANY Co

War Gardens were the brain child of Charles Lathrop Pack. He came up with the idea in March 1917 (before the US entered the war) to increase the food supply without increasing the “use of land already cultivated, of labor already engaged in agricultural work, of time devoted to other necessary occupations, and of transportation facilities which were already inadequate to the demands made upon them.”

He organized the National War Garden Commission which included among its members Luther Burbank, representatives of several major universities, and the president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The commission publicized the gardens with pamphlets, printed material for newspaper distribution, and colorful, propagandist posters.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany & Co. of New York.

Many thanks to Ben Burnham for granting me permission to use the images from his eBay store.