All Medals

References:   Cal MA-1997

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Hill facing three-quarters left. Around, MEMORIAL / JAMES JEROME HILL

The reverse bears oak wreath around inscription, SEPTEMBER 16TH / 1838 / MAY 29TH / 1916 / "ONE OF THE / WORLD'S GREATEST / BUILDERS"

James Jerome Hill (1838-1916) was born in Ontario. Blind in one eye due to a childhood bow and arrow accident, forced to leave school due to the death of his father, he  amoved to Kentucky where he learned bookkeeping while working as a clerk.  He started working for himself in the 1860's and gathered a lot of experience in the area of shipping and fuel supply. In 1870 he started a steam boat company and by 1879 he had navigated it into a highly profitable local monopoly. In the same year, a big bet Hill and his business partners had made three years earlier came to fruition when the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company formed from the assets of the bankrupt St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, with Hill as the general manager.

From here on Hill relentlessy expanded his railroad empire, through construction and acquisition. He personally surveyed the track for his own transcontinental railway, which was the only private transcontinental company to turn a profit. At the time of his death, his networth was an estimated $53 million, $2.5 billion in today's dollars.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. Neither mintage nor artist are reported.

References:   Cal FM-1973

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Joseph Pennel, facing right. Around top, JOSEPH · PENNELL; signed and dated at right, SEPTE (JF monogram) MBER / MCMXIX

The reverse bears a coat of arms surrounded by belt with Philadelphia Water Color Club written on it. Around, IOSEPH · PENNELL · MEMORIAL · MEDAL

In the autumn of 1900, a group of dedicated painters founded the Philadelphia Water Color Club to raise the esteem of watercolor in the art world.  At the time, oils and sculpture tended to dominate art exhibitions. Over the decades, the club developed a distinguished collection of works by such greats as Maxfield Parrish, John Singer Sargent, and Pablo Picasso.  In 2000 the club changed its name to "Philadelphia Water Color Society" to reflect its changed nature and scope.

Joseph Pennell was a native Philadelphia artist who created many etchings and posters.  He is probably best-known for having created the poster for the fourth Liberty Loans campaign in 1918.   It shows New York City's harbor under heavy bombardment with the Statue of Liberty partly destroyed.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was first manufactured by the U.S. Mint. In 1949 it turned the dies over to the Medallic Art Company of New York and later medals were struck there. No mintages are reported.

References:   Baxter 159, MACo 1949-008

The obverse bears polar bear on floe, flying snow geese behind. In upper field, ARCTIC; around, * GREELY * BARTLETT * PEARY * BYRD *

The reverse bears group of four penguins on ice. Around, * PALMER * WILKES * BYRD * ELLSWORTH *; below, ANTARCTIC / E.F.S / ©

Springweiler described his thoughts in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"In creating this medal I was thinking of another world, a silent and cruel one, the regions around the poles of our globe, the endless icewastes, the land of midnight sun."

While stressing the barren and cruel nature of the polar reaches, he praised the men who had set out to explore them and commemorated their names on the medal.

This medal was chosen as the 24th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1941. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its mintage is reported to be 999 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-024, Marqusee 369, SoM 24

References:   Cal HM-1996

The medal's obverse bears kneeling semi-nude female figure facing left, holding goddess of victory in one hand, lyre in the other. Around, · ST · PAUL ·  - · INSTITUTE · ; signed in exergue, P · MANSHIP

The reverse bears winged steed in flight over large sun; wreath around bottom.

Paul Manship attended the St. Paul School of Art, which was later renamed to Saint Paul Institute of Arts and Sciences. I guess this medal was a thank you to his alma mater where his lifelong passion for sculpture was first kindled.

The medal's reverse is very reminiscent of the Art Directors' Club medal's obverse.

The circular medal measures 53.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   Baxter 364, MACo 1916-012-01, Murtha 76

The medal's obverse bears bust of Choate left. Around left edge, CHOATE; at lower right, signed H. A.

The reverse bears oil lamp of Century Association above, surrounded by C - A; circled ANS oak leaves below; laurels around. In center field, JOSEPH HODGES CHOATE / 1832 - 1917 / PATRIOT / AMBASSADOR / JURIST / ORATOR

Joseph Hodges Choate, born in Salem, Massachusetts, was a famous lawyer who litigated many of the most prominent cases in the late 19th century. He allied himself with the Republican Party and was a frequent campaign orator. In 1894 he was president of the New York State constitutional convention. In 1899 he was appointed ambassador to England by President McKinley and held that position until 1905. When World War I broke out he became a fervent supporter of the Allied cause. His death in 1917 was hastened by the physical strain of supporting the British and French commissions in New York.

Herbert Adams was a personal friend of Joseph Choate.

This medal was co-issued by the Century Association and the American Numismatic Society (ANS) in 1922. It was the 44th medal issued by the ANS. It was also the first in a series of medals commemorating men who distinguished themselves in public service.

The medal measures 64mm (2.5in) in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck 238 pieces in bronze and 98 in silver. Originally the bronze pieces were available for $5 and the silver pieces for $10.

References:   ANS 44, Baxter 224, MACo 1922-022, Marqusee 2

The obverse bears facade of building with four columns; in center, female figure representing Art descending steps, holding statuette in right and laurel wreath in left hand. On sides, representations of Painting and Sculpture. Above, CHARACTER RELIGION FRIENDSHIP; immediately below, MDC / CCXXX / VII and MCM / XIII; at lower left, (ANS seal); signed at lower right, E. FUCHS

The reverse bears tablet inscribed JOHN / PIERPONT / MORGAN flanked by two draped figures, female holding palm branch representing Fame at left, male with sledge hammer and anvil representing Industry at right.

This is the 30th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The rectangular medal measures 90mm x 74mm and was struck by Whitehead and Hoag of Newark, New Jersey. The mintage is 1 piece in gold, 100 pieces in silver and an 200 pieces in bronze.

References:   ANS 30, Baxter 292, Marqusee 188