All Medals

The obverse bears bust of Lincoln, r. (no button holes on lapel). Around, SALVATOR / PATRIAE.; signed below truncation, EMIL SIGEL FECIT.

The reverse bears wreath around circumference; ribbon running through wreath with inscription PUB. BY THE / AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / AND / ARCHAEOLOGICAL / SOCIETY / NEW YORK 1866. In center field, IN / MEMORY / OF THE / LIFE ACTS AND DEATH / OF / ABRAHAM LINCOLN / BORN FEBRUARY 12. 1809. / DIED APRIL 15. 1865.

This medal, the first one to be officially issued by the ANS, almost proved financially calamitous to the young organization. The dies gave out quickly and Sigel had to create a second set. The Society put a $720 lien on the set of dies until the additional costs were completely repaid.

The circular medal measures 83mm in diameter. Mintage numbers are uncertain but believed to be between 100 and 125 pieces in bronze and 30 in white metal (tin).

J.S. and A.B. Wyon of London were authorized to strike reductions of the medal in different sizes and metals. Variants that are known to exist include bronze pieces, silver and white metal pieces in sizes of 35mm, 16mm and 7mm. All of these are rare. These medals were not issued by the ANS, though the Society purchased 25 sets for sale to its members.

References:   ANS 1, Marqusee 353

The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Helmholtz, facing right, squinting through an optical instrument. Around top right, HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ; signed at lower left, DAUB

The reverse show optical diagram of object, lenses and observer's eye to left.

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions in several scientific fields.

In physiology and psychology, he is known for his mathematics of the eye, theories of vision, ideas on the visual perception of space, color vision research, and on the sensation of tone, perception of sound, and empiricism in the physiology of perception.

In physics, he is known for his theories on the conservation of energy, work in electrodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, and on a mechanical foundation of thermodynamics.

As a philosopher, he is known for his philosophy of science, ideas on the relation between the laws of perception and the laws of nature, the science of aesthetics, and ideas on the civilizing power of science.

The circular medallion measures 98mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-001, Marqusee 174, SoM 1

The obverse bears kneeling nude youth holding an airplane model in right hand, left hand on propeller; sun at left horizon. To right, date and signature 19 (circled BP) 41 / ©

The reverse bears dove in flight over fleecy clouds. Below, FLIGHT

Brenda Putnam wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"Although this medal is issued during a preiod when the entire world is engaged in a gigantic struggle on land, at sea, and in the air, the theme of the medal is not warlike. The lad is no warrior, and the bird no eagle. Rather does the design concern itself with man's creative struggle to win supremacy in a vast new region, -the air. The war proves only too well the appalling destructive power of fighting and bombing planes. But beyond the war -and there will surely be a beyond- there are infinite possibilities for constructive and humanitarian activities in man's conquest of the air."

This medal was chosen as the 26th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1942. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York, which struck 759 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-026, SoM 26, Marqusee 326

References:   Murtha 475

References:   Cal FM-1981

The medal's obverse bears standing figure of Lafayette, with right arm leaning onto pedestal with conjoined busts of Washington and Franklin. On pedestal, AMERICA'S / ADOPTED / SON; around, MDCCLVII - LAFAYETTE - MDCCCXXXIV; signed in exergue, 19 (JF monogram) 34

The medal's reverse depicts sword intertwined with branches of laurel, oak, and palm at center. Surrounding legend, THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LAFAYETTE -/- MAY XX - MCMXXXIV / CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH."

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

John Flanagan had already created a Lafayette medal in 1920 to commemorate the Knights' of Columbus donation of a Statue of Lafayette to the French city of Metz.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is not reported.

References:   MACo 1934-024, Marqusee 139

The obverse bears bust of Theodosia Burr Alston, l. Above and below, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS; on left, THEODOSIA / BURR / ALSTON; on right, 1783 / 1813 / (RAW monogram)

This was the third of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1975.

The reverse bears wreath held on left and right by two winged putte. Above, BORN / IN ALBANY / NEW YORK; below, LOST / AT SEA; inside wreath, MARRIED / TO / JOSEPH ALSTON / IN 1801 / HIS PLANTATION / "THE OAKS" / IS NOW A PART OF / BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 3

The medal's obverse bears two allegorical female figures representing Europe and America, flanking a giant globe spanned by a cable; angel above, Eagle and Lion at the feet of their figures; three small panels below, bearing American Eagle and shield, native with trade goods and ocean in background, and British coat of arms. At bottom, TIFFANY & CO. N.Y.

The reverse bears two ships at sea with others in background. Above, FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / AND CITIZENS OF NEW YORK,; in exergue, COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN / BY HIM / IN LAYING THE FIRST / TELEGRAPHIC CABLE / BETWEEN / EUROPE AND AMERICA IN AUGUST, A.D. 1858

Cyrus West Field (1819-1892) was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and rose to world-wide fame for being one of the backers of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.  The first trans-atlantic cable was laid from Telegraph Field, Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland and heralded a new era of communications.  While the cable failed after a brief period of service, it proved the feasibility of the concept of instantaneous trans-atlantic communications. Its significance can be compared to the first trans-atlantic flight or the first Moon landing. 

The medal bears some similarity to the gold medals that were awarded to Field and his partner, but the reverse is different.  Struck by Tiffany and Company, New York, the circular medal measures 69mm in diameter.  Only few large-size bronze peices are known to exist.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References:   Marqusee 377