All Medals

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Sybil Ludington, half-right, next to equestrian statue by Anna Hyatt Huntington. Around, SYBIL LUDINGTON; in exergue, DANBURY STATUE / BY ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON; signed at bottom, TR

The reverse bears two laurel branches. Across, COMMEMORATING / DANBURY / COIN CLUB / 20th / ANNIVERSARY / OCTOBER 1957

The Danbury Coin Club was founded at 8:00 pm on Thursday October 24, 1957. Sixteen people responded to an advertisement in the Danbury News Times calling an open meeting for anyone interested in forming a local coin club in Danbury, Connecticut.

Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) was a heroine of the American Revolution. On the night of April 26, 1777, at the age of 16, she rode to alert militia forces in villages of Putnam County, New York and Danbury, Connecticut, to the approach of the British regular forces. The ride was similar to those performed by William Dawes and Paul Revere, and Jack Jouett. Ludington rode more than twice the distance of Revere and was much younger than the men.

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears youthful male figure with outstretched arms, standing on two outcroppings labeled 1833 and 1933 respectively. To his left, branch with leaves above RESEARCH; to his right, rectilinear design above INDUSTRY; signed at right, ERZ

The reverse bears an aerial view of the fair grounds. Around, - 1933 - A - CENTURY - OF - PROGRESS - INTERNATIONAL - EXPOSITION - CHICAGO; signed at left, ZETTLER

As the artist wrote in the pamphlet accompanying the medal:

"The youthful figure of strength, energy and action represents the intellectual arch between natures's resources and man's work. From research and invention have come the great achievements of the century, 1833-1933. The extended arms of the figure praise the work of Science and Industry and their great benefits to humanity."

This is a beautiful example of both art deco and machine age symbolism. As the U.S. was struggling to leave the Great Depression, belief in science and technology was at an all-time high and the Century of Progress Exposition was a way to celebrate this "scientific optimism."  Those were the endeavors that would make life better for everyone.  Unfortunately, the horror of World War II that was only six years in the future would illustrate the other uses of research and industry.

The medal was struck in different sizes. The large size is the official souvenir medal whereas the smaller sized "so-called dollar" HK-463 is the official medal. No mintages are reported.

References:   Marqusee 415

References:   ANS 6

References:   Murtha 109

The medal's obvese bears a desert scene from a trading caravan with camel at left and group of two Bedouins haggling over a length of cloth; camels in background on sand dune. Signed at bottom right, KILENYI

The obverse bears city with factories in background. In lower half, NATIONAL RETAIL DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION / REPLICA OF MEDALS / AWARDED TO / CARLOS B. CLARK AND LEW HAHN / FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE / TO THE CRAFT / PRESENTED FEBRUARY 7. 1929

Clark and Hahn each received a gold medal that was named to them. Another 18 gold medals were issued over the next 30 years. One gold-plated medal named to Seidel is kjnown to exist. 

Many thanks to Harry Waterson for the detailed information on variants and mintages.

References:   CoF 9, Marqusee 327

The medal's obverse bears conjoined busts of Wilbur and Orville Wright, facing half-left.  Around top, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT; in exergue, WILBUR ORVILLE WRIGHT / KITTY HAWK, NORTH CAROLINA / DECEMBER 17, 1903; signed above shoulder at right, KILENYI

The reverse bears rays projecting from Wright brothers' plane at right, tail of modern jet at left, clouds in background and gently sloping hills below. Around, FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF FLIGHT / SECURITY AND PROGRESS; under jet, 1953; under Wright biplane, 1903

The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 40

The medal's obverse bears head of Statue of Liberty, facing. Around, STATUE OF LIBERTY / 1886 · CENTENNIAL · 1986; signed at right, (JOV monogram)

The reverse bears Statue of Liberty facing half right. Across, GIVE - ME YOUR / TIRED, - YOUR POOR, / YOUR - HUDDLED / MASSES - YEARNING TO / BREATHE - FREE. THE / WRETCHED - REFUSE / OF YOUR - TEEMING / SHORE. - SEND / THESE, THE - HOMELESS, / TEMPEST- - TOST TO ME. / I LIFT - MY LAMP / BESIDE - THE / GOLDEN / DOOR / Emma / Lazarus; signed at lower right, (JOV monogram)

This medal bears many similarities with the 1986 Calendar medal, also by Marcel Jovine. The obverse becomes the calendar medal reverse's center field, and the reverse is changed to show an immigrant family surrounded by Emma Lazarus' poem.  At a guess, Marcel Jovine submitted multiple designs and the Medallic Art Company decided to create more than one medal from them.

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears busts of James Mitchell Lamson Scovill and William Henry Scovill in circular fields at left and right; wreath-like borders at top and bottom of fields. Around top and bottom, SCOVILL MANUFACTURING / COMPANY / 1802-1902 / WATERBURY, CONN.; busts labeled around top, J. M. L. SCOVILL and WM. H. SCOVILL

The reverse bears wreath and inscription. Around, within beaded border,  CENTENNIAL OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SCOVILL MANUFACTURING CO.; in center field, PRESENTED / BY THE COMPANY / TO / ARTHUR T. HADLEY / 1802 / ABEL PORTER & CO. / 1811 / LEAVENWORTH HAYDEN & SCOVILL / 1827 / J.M.L. & W.H. SCOVILL / 1850 / SCOVILL MFG. CO.

This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in 1902. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods.

The circular medal medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Scovill Manufacturing Company itself. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the Numismatics Department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generous support with making this medal available to me for research.