All Medals

The paperweight bears Native American chief in full headdress, facing half right. At bottom, SENECA / NEW YORK

Seneca, New York is in the area where the native Seneca people, an Iroquois-speaking people lived.

The paperweight has two half-spherical ball feet at the top, so that it rests at a slight angle. It measures 63.2mm x 101.6mm and was struck by the Whitehad-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.

References:   BG 32

References:   MACo 1971-013-012, WR 12

References:   Cal MC-2000-2

The uniface medal bears seated nude female figure holding scales in her right hand within geometric pattern border.  Downwards at right side, LIBRA; under crossed feet at bottom, © MACO - 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac. It spans 180°–210° celestial longitude. Under the tropical zodiac, Sun transits this area on average between September 23 and October 23, and under the sidereal zodiac, the sun currently transits the constellation of Libra from approximately October 16 to November 17.

The symbol of the scales is based on the Scales of Justice held by Themis, the Greek personification of divine law and custom. She became the inspiration for modern depictions of Lady Justice.

The ruling planet of Libra is Venus. Libra is the only zodiac constellation in the sky represented by an inanimate object. The other eleven signs are represented either as an animal or mythological characters throughout history. Libra is one of the three zodiac air signs, the others being Gemini and Aquarius.

The Libra medal has unusually high relief, with the female figure's head rising a full 5mm above the medal's surface plane, effectively doubling the medal's thickness.

My silver variant is engraved on the reverse.  The dedication reads:  TODD H. OVERTON, J.D., M.D. / OCTOBER 12. 1937

The circular medal measures between 69.7 and 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintages are reported but based on my experience I believe the silver variant to be very rare.

References:   MACo 1967-151-010

References:   ANS 27, Baxter 248, Marqusee 54

The medal's obverse bears upholstered armchair. Around, SHEARMAN BROTHERS COMPANY / JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK; under chair, OUR / 75th YEAR

The reverse bears company's trademark. Around, MANUFACTURING QUALITY FURNITURE / DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY; in geometric logo, SHEARMAN / BROTHERS / COMPANY / HIGH GRADE / UPHOLSTERY / JAMESTOWN / NEW / YORK / TRADE / MARK

I find myself oddly attracted to this otherwise pretty standard corporate commemorative.  The armchair is very nicely rendered with a floral pattern and the overall composition is pleasing.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

This uniface medal's obverse bears standing woman, cradling pallet in one arm and holding brushes and a winged trophy. Signed at bottom left, V. D. Brenner

The reverse bears engaving, THE ART LEAGUE OF NASSAU COUNTY / 25TH ANNIVERSARY / 1950 / GEORGE TSCHAMBER

This was a popular art award medal that was used for many years by different organizations.  Dick Johnson reports that the National Art League used it as of 1961 but this example clearly predates that production run (MACo 1961-065).

The circular medal measures 50.6mm in diameter and was struck in gold-plated bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1929-024

The uniface medallion bears portrait of Henry L. Stimson, facing left. To his right, (CA) for the Century Association; on banner around bottom, HENRY · L · STIMSON; signed and dated under truncation, MANSHIP / 1950

Henry Lewis Stimson (1867-1950) was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in the foreign policy of the United States, serving in Republican and Democratic administrations. He served as Secretary of War (1911-1913) under William Howard Taft, Secretary of State (1929-1933) under Herbert Hoover, and Secretary of War (1940-1945) under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Stimson served as the Century Association's president from 1937 to 1939.

A galvano of Paul Manship's medallion was used as the model for the Henry L. Stimson medal, which is presented annually to outstanding Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District and in the Eastern District of New York.

The medallion measures around 100mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. It is not known how many medallions were cast.

References:   Murtha 512

The medal's obverse bears a flaming torch of leadership, a sword of valor and a laurel wreath of peace; On circumference, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY / SESQUICENTENNIAL; across, 1802 / 1952 / ©

The reverse shows a spread eagle below a rising sun standing on a shield, clutching arrows, and an inscribed ribbon with legend DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY / WEST POINT / MDCCCII / USMA. A battle helmet of military service with the rod of authority are superimposed on the shield. On circumference, WEST POINT / DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY.

This medal was commissioned for the anniversary celebration and distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and civic groups for several years thereafter.

Laura Gardin Fraser maintained a long and productive relationship with Westpoint. In addition to this medal she designed West Point's Sylvanus Thayer medal in 1957 and. Finally, just before her death, she completed the American History bronze panels at the new library of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She had started working on them in 1935, "for love of country" as she said. Her patience was rewarded in 1964 when the panels were cast in bronze and installed at West Point.

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1951-020