All Medals

References:   MACo 1967-151-002

This medal does not have a traditional obverse and reverse. It is cast of two parts, the upper piece being two stylized fingers holding a coin bearing the ANS seal. The upper piece nestles into the base that bears the acronym ANS on its surface.

This medal was the 56th official issue of the American Numismatic Scoiety's member medal series. It was issued as part of the Society's endowment drive in the period from 1986 to 1989.  While bronze variants were for sale to all members at a price of $100, silver variants were only given to donors who contributed at least $5,000 to the Society's coffers.

The irregularly shaped two-piece medal measures approximately 83mm x 82mm and was cast in bronze and silver by the C. A. Brown Foundry. The production quantity is reported as 48 pieces in bronze and 70 in silver.

References:   ANS 56

References:   MACo 1973-159

References:   Murtha 365

The uniface plaquette bears bust of Lincoln, facing right, in circular incuse field, sun at bottom left corner, slave with chained wrist looking up from bottom right. At top, 1809 - 1865; at bottom, LINCOLN

Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about this handsome little plaquette.  Any additional information would be highly welcome.

The rectangular plaquette measures 39.1mm x 50.7mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears winged Italia head, facing left, with stylized waves below. Around, · CROCIERA AEREA (star) DEL DECENNALE · / ROMA-CHICAGO NEW-YORK-ROMA; signed under truncation, R MORBIDVCCI

The reverse bears eight groups of three planes  flying around upper circumference from Colloseum and buildings at lower right via polar bear at top to skyscrapers at lower left; stylized waves between two cities. In center field, REDIT ITALIA / PER AETHERA / MVSSOLINI DVCE / BALBO / DVCTORE; at bottom,  · MCMXXXIII · XI ·

The event commemorated by this medal is a stunning formation flight of 24 planes from Rome to Chicago where they participated in the celebrations of the Chicago World's Fair of 1933 . The fleet, also called the Italian Air Armada, took of from Rome on July 1, 1933 and arrived in Chicago 49 hours later, having stopped for refueling in Amsterdam, Derry, Reykjavik, Cartwright, Shediac, and Montreal.

The fleet was led by Italo Balbo (1896-1940), a dedicated Italian Fascist and early member of Mussolini's inner circle. Though he had only minimal experience in aviation, Balbo was appointed Secretary of State for Air. Rather than treating this position as a sinecure, Balbo took a crash course in flying and began building up the Italian Air Force.  He personally led a transatlantic flight of twelve Savoia-Marchettis in 1930 before leading the Italian Air Armada  to Chicago in 1933.

While intended as a demonstration of Italian might under its Fascist leader Mussolini, America loved heros of any stripe and celebrated him and his compatriots.  President Roosevelt invited him to lunch and awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross. The pilots were given a parade in New York and Balbo was warmly welcomed by the Italian Americans. 

Balbo was killed by friendly fire when his plane was shot down by the Italian cruiser San Giorgio while he was trying to return to Lybia where he served as Governor-General.

This medal is a master piece of Italian art deco. It is clearly influenced by the Fascist aesthetic but not to the extreme of including the helmeted Mussolini or the nude warriors. The choice of the winged Italia, even a firece winged Italia, puts the medal back into a more civil(ian) setting.

The circular medal measures 60.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and .800 silver by Arte Medaglia, Rome. No mintage is reported for either material.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Andrew Jackson, facing half left. Below, AT THE TIME THE POTOMAC INSURANCE / COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED "OLD HICKORY" / WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES / AND SIGNED THE SPECIAL ACT OF / CONGRESS GRANTING THE COMPANY'S / CHARTER.; below, in script, Approved 2nd March 1831 / Andrew Jackson; signed at right, (JMS monogram)

The reverse bears view of Capitol.  In centerfield, CENTENARY. / 1831 - 1931; around, THE POTOMAC INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ·

The medal measures 70.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1931-050

The medal's obverse bears

The reverse bears

This is the fourth annual membership medal issued by the Medal Collectors of America.

The circular medal measures 63.6mm in diameter and was struck in silver and bronze. The mintage is reported as 36 pieces in bronze and 28 pieces in silver.

The obverse bears head of a Jersey cow facing left. Around, · AMERICAN · JERSEY · CATTLE · CLVB ·; below, ORGANIZED 1868 / CHARTERED 1880; signed under head, (GK monogram)

The reverse bears idyllic scene with three Jersey calves on pasture, sun rising on horizon. Around, · OMNIS · PECVNIAE · PECVS · FVNDAMENTVM ·; inscribed, SOPHIE'S HANNAH / R. OF M. 1925

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. 14K

The American Jersey Cattle Association, as it is known today, was founded in 1868. It is the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States. The services it provides to today's dairy business owners include animal identification and recording, production testing and type appraisal, and genetic evaluations.

This medal is not part of Dick Johnson's excellent reference on American medals. It combines the obverse and reverse from two other medals that Kawamura designed for the Jersey Cattle Club. Kawamura's entire medallic work is cattle-related.

The medal measures 35mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver, and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1989-329, Cal MA-1990