All Medals

The medal's obverse bears eagle, wings spread, holding branch in talons, facing right. Signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The medal's reverse bears eagle's head in center; under beak, 19 / 87; twelve segments with months around.

1987 was the Bicentennial Year of the U.S. Constitution.  While the anniversary is not explicitly mentioned on the medal, I would not be surprised if the choice of the Eagle were a nod to Jovine's adopted country.

This circular circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in a variety of materials by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported.

Many thanks to CJ Swinko for the excellent photos of the bronze variant.

References:   MACo 1986-175, Cal MA-1987

The medallion's obverse bears a modern sculpture.  Above, THE ART / INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO / MR. AND MRS. FRANK G. LOGAN MEDAL

The reverse bears more abstract sculpture.

The circular medallion measures 81.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1956-020

The obverse bears perched American Eagle behind Catholic University's coat of arms. Around, THE · CATHOLIC · UNIVERSITY · OF · AMERICA; in coat of arms, DEUS - MEA / LUX - EST

The reverse bears cross. Around, · CORRIGAN · McCORMICK · McENTEGART · McDONALD · KEANE · CONATY · O'CONNELL · SHAHAN · RYAN ·; across, 1889 - 1964 / DIAMOND - JUBILEE; at top, seven papal names, at bottom, three U.S. cardinal names, GIBBONS / CURLEY / O'BOYLE

The medal's edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE.

At the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1866, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops first discussed the need for a national Catholic university. After Mary Gwendoline Caldwell pledged $300,000 to establish it, Pope Leo XIII sent James Cardinal Gibbons a letter granting permission to establish the university on April 10, 1887. Finally, on March 7, 1889 the Pope issued the encyclical Magna Nobis, granting the university its charter and establishing its mission as the instruction of Catholicism and human nature together at the graduate level.

Today, the Catholic University of America is rated one of the best value colleges in America. To help keep it affordable, the American Cardinals Dinner is put on by the residential U.S. cardinals each year to raise scholarship funds.

The medal measures 70mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1963-054

The medal's obverse bears view of L. Bamberger & Co.'s Newark flagship store.

The reverse bears legend within wreath, L. BAMBERGER Co. / NEWARK, N.J. / 1893 - 1912

Louis Bamberger (1855-1944) was born in Baltimore and came to Newark in 1892.  He purchased the bankrupt dry goods emporium Hill & Craig at auction. and renamed it L. Bamberger & Company. Under Bamberger’s leadership,  the store became very successful.  In 1912 he opened the first section of his completely redone store to the public. This is the event commemorated by this medal.  He eventually sold his empire to Macy's, which kept the Bamberger brand alive till 1986.  The Newark store was finally closed in 1991.

The circular medal measures 74.6mm in diameter and was probably struck by Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, New Jersey, but I can't be sure because the medal bears neither an artist's signature nor maker's marks.  Any additional information would be welcome.

The medal's obverse bears Washington portrait, facing quarter-left, under eye in the sky with radiant beams of light; underneath, streamer with inscription (acorn) SUO (acorn) SE (acorn) ROE - ORE (acorn) FIRMAT (acorn); right angle and compass at center bottom. Around bottom half, HE WAS A BROTHER - OF THE MYSTIC TIE

The reverse seal of Fredericksburg lodge with masonic symbols and Washington's progress throught the masonic hierarchy. From left throught bottom, to right, NOV. 4 / 5752 / ENTERED / APPRENTICE; MAR. 3 - 5753 / FELLOW - CRAFT; AUG. 4 / 5753 / MASTER / MASON; signed at bottom, I. F. WOOD, DES. G. H. LOVETT, FEC.

The dates on the medal are numbered in the masonic calendar, which can be a bit confusing to non-masons, but we can simply subtract 4,000 from the numbers to get the "common" calendar years. Washington advanced quickly through the apprenticeship stage to emerge a master mason at the young age of 21.

The medal was designed by Isaac F. Wood and the dies were cut by George H. Lovett. It measures 51mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.  It appears to be a pretty rare medal though I am not aware of its exact mintage.

References:   BG 29

The medal's obverse bears a muscular nude goddess of art holding a small Nike with Pegasus and guiding star behind. The reverse bears a hand holding a modeling tool in front of a caliper and L-square. Around, THIS ABOVE ALL TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.

The purpose of Abram Belskie's medal is not known, but the title, a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet, suggests that this medal was commissioned to honor artistic achievement and to encourage artists to follow their own creative impulses. In the artist's own words:

"The drama of Sculpture does not always appear on the surface but its story is indeed the story of civilization. Art is a goddess who smiles upon all, though mostly on her votaries and whose charms are very young. The sculptors of every age are the true mute though not inglorious laureates of their time and as long as men remain men, the principals [sic] of eternal beauty will woo their imagination."

This medal was chosen as the 49th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The Society's members seemed torn on this medal. While some found it beautiful and even without peer, others objected to lack of detail, anatomical weaknesses, and being "too modernistic for plain men."

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.  The mintage was reported as 748 pieces in bronze. The number of silver pieces is not known but the edition was limited to 700.

References:   MACo 1930-001-049, SoM 49

The plaque's obverse bears Goodyear flag over legend.  Around upper half, THE · GREATEST · NAME · IN · RUBBER; across, 1898 / GOODYEAR / 50 / ANNIVERSARY / 1948

The reverse bears kneeling male figure, facing left, holding winged wheel in raised hands behind his head; Goodyear tire with logo by his feet; at cardinal points around medal are streamlined plane, car, train, and zeppelin. At upper left, FIFTY YEARS / DEVOTED TO / THE ADVANCE / MENT OF / TRANSPORT- / ATION; signed under tire at right, (RC monogram)

I don't know whether this quintessential art-deco design was ever realized.  It is not part of Dick Johnson's reference and I have not seen it in metal. I received the images from John Ball, a Library Associate at the University of Akron. The University of Akron received a large portion of the Goodyear archives when the company stopped employing its own historian.  Among the records was this design.

Please contact me if you have seen a medal or plaque resembling this design.

The uniface medal bears profile of Drew as Petruchio, right. Around top, JOHN DREW; to left and right, MAR· - XXII; below, MDCCCLXXIII · MCMXXIII

Farnham was commissioned to create a gold plaque commemorating 50 years of stage work by famed American actor John Drew. The plaque was awarded to Drew at a glittering dinner in New York City on March 25, 1923. Farnham created a 2 1/2 inch companion medal for the 350 dinner guests that evening.

The circular uniface medall was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. The location of the gold plaque is currently unknown.

Many thanks to the creator of sallyjamesfarnham.org for the image and associated information.

References:   MACo 1923-021