All Medals

References:   BG 8

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.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Whitman, facing. Around, 1819 WALT · WHITMAN 1892; dated and signed across, 1925 - FINTA

The reverse bears Prometheus shackled to rock at ankle and wrist, with eagle attacking him from right, clawing at his side, beak raised towards his face. Around, AUTHORS · CLUB · MEMORIAL · FUND; signed and dated across, 1925 - FINTA

The circular medal measures 51.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-009

References:   BG 34

The medal's obverse bears nude female figure in supplicant pose, holding up medallic object before disc and stars. Around disc, FOR · EXCELLENCE · IN · THE - ART · OF - NUMISMATIC · EXHIBITING; at bottom, · HOWLAND WOOD · / · MEMORIAL · / · AWARD ·

The medal's reverse bears central disc behind ANA seal with oak and laurel underneath. Above, · AWARDED TO ·

As you can tell, I know very little about this medal and would appreciate more information about it,

The uniface medallion bears bust of Edward Robinson facing right. Around, · EDWARD · ROBINSON · 1923 · ; signed on truncation, P. MANSHIP

Edward Robinson (1858-1931) was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard in 1879.  In the following years he devoted much of his time to studying archaeology abroad, particularly in Berlin and in Greece. He became curator of classical antiquities at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1895 and was promoted to director in 1902.  In 1906 he moved to New York and became assistant director at the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts.  In 1906 he succeeded Caspar Purdon Clarke as director. In this position he and Manship could not help but meet.

The circular medallion measures 94.6mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. I have also seen the medallion in a size of 95.9mm. No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 161

The medal bears a speeding "900" locomotive with bolt of lightning above; branch of cotton and shield with COTTON / BELT / ROUTE at bottom right.  Above and below lightning bolt, BLUE / STREAK  / FAST FREIGHT; around, ST. LOUIS SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY LINES

The circular medal measures 74mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears flying bird with American shield iover ship's sterring wheel. Inscribed in wheel, UNITED STATES - FIDELITY AND - GUARANTY COMPANY / · 1896 ·;  In exergue, U.S.F. & G. / BALTIMORE / MARYLAND

The reverse bears flying bird over wreath. Sword with 1896 at left, staff with 1946 at right; between, FIFTY YEARS / OF / INSURANCE / AND / SURETYSHIP

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears a line of five runners, flying geese overhead, slim whippet racing below.

The reverse bears a nude athlete putting the shot. Flanking the athlete, 19 (RTM monogram) 36 - REJOICE / OH / YOUNG - MAN IN / THY - YOUTH; in exergue, ©

Robert Tait McKenzie is rightly famous for his athletic subjects and this medal is a good example. As he wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The last fifty years has shown a revival and spread of interest in competitive athletic sports and outdoor life that has no parallel in the history of the world...
As one who has followed this great movement from its inceptionto maturity I have chosen two phases of it for the thirteenth medal issued by the Society."

This medal was chosen as the 13th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 1,001 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   109, MACo 1930-001-013, Marqusee 269, SoM 13

The obverse bears a likeness of Charles Lindbergh wearing flight gear, goggles dangling over his chest, with the inscription "CHARLES AUGUSTUS LINDBERGH" and Frederick MacMonnies' monogram FM / 1931 / ©

The reverse bears an allegorical scene together with the inscription "LONE EAGLE."

Lindbergh's non-stop transatlantic flight from Long Island to Paris took place between May 20th and 21st 1927. Not only did he win $25,000 in prize money for the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, he also captivated the imagination of an entire generation. Upon his arrival at the airfield of Le Bourget, just outside of Paris, a 100,000 strong crowd gave him a hero's welcome. His achievement was commemorated in countless stamps, medals, and commemorative issues of all kinds.

MacMonnies created this medal four years after the flight and late in his career. He tried to convey Lindbergh' spirit and courage on the obverse. In MacMonnies' own words:

"To attempt to commemorate Lindbergh's mighty achievement within the tiny compass of a three inch medal is preposterous, and if one does not succeed in represeting even a faint suggestion if the sublime courage that faced appaling odds - the fascinating problem is compensation enough. In the head of Lindbergh I have tried to catch something of the inner belief and nobility of vision of the boy, together with the experience of the master airman."

MacMonnies likely based his obverse design on the iconic photo of Lindbergh shown here.

This medal was chosen as the fourth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1931. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, this medal measures 73mm in diameter. The reported production quantity is 1,989 in bronze and 250 in silver though there were two additional 32mm-diameter editions in bronze and silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-004, Marqusee 249, SoM 4