All Medals

References:   Marqusee 219,220

The medal's obverse bears the original telephone in its wooden frame. Around, THE ORIGINAL TELEPHONE OF / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

The reverse bears inscription, IN / COMMEMORATION / OF THE GOLDEN / ANNIVERSARY OF / THE INVENTION OF / THE TELEPHONE BY / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL / IN 1876 / WHACH WAS THE / BEGINNING OF THE / BELL SYSTEM

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 and the company resulting from his invention ruled the telephone market as a monopolist until its breakujp was mandated in 1982.  Since then innovations like VOIP (voice over IP) have started posing existential threats to the remaining phone companies.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.

This medal is woefully scarcely documented. Neither designer nor mint are known and I could not find any additional information.  Please contact me if you know anything about this medal.

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of old Benjamin Franklin facing right. Across top, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASS'N; signed diagonally down under truncation, ANDREW C. McHENCH Sc.

The reverse is inscibed: 1956 / CHICAGO CONVENTION / PRESENTED FOR / EXCELLENCE / OF EXHIBIT / FIRST AWARD / HEROLD DERMODY

The plaquette is based on a much earlier design by Andrew McHench. Clyde C. Trees of the Medallic Art Company acquired the design in 1931.  Starting in 1956 it was used as as stock medal.

References:   MACo 1931-030

The medal's obverse bears figure of Asher, facing right, picking fruit from a tree into basket at his feet; trees on hilly slope to his right, sun to his left. At top left, ASHER; signed and dated in exergue, © E. WEISTROP 1970

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Asher was Jacob's eighth son, his second son with Zilpah. Asher's blessing was the beauty of his women, who would be sought in marriage by kings and high priests. Jacob's blessing also included:

"Asher's bread shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties."

This is the eighth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-006, TToI 8

The medal's obverse bears sword and shield bearing allegorical female figure representing France astride, facing half rightl shield emblazoned with RF; light beans emanating from behind her head; background composed of masses of small soldiers and war machinery, including airplanes and artillery.  Around, · TO · COMMEMORATE · THE · DEFENCE · OF · VERDUN - 1916 ·

The reverse bears two towers of castle fortifications with bridge and moat flanked by French soldiers crossing bayonet-equipped rifles in front of city; female figure carrying laurel crown and trumpet flying above; in exergue, Verdun's coat of arms and streamer reading · ILS · NE · PASSERONT · PAS ·; signed in exergue around bottom right, PAUL MANSHIP ©

The Battle of Verdun lasted from 21 February to 18 December 1916. For 303 days French and German forces battled back and forth, waging the longest and one of the most costly battles in human history. An estimate in 2000 found a total of 714,231 casualties, 377,231 French and 337,000 German, for an average of 70,000 casualties a month; other recent estimates increase the number of casualties to 976,000 during the battle, with 1,250,000 suffered at Verdun during the entire war. In the end, the German advance fell short and the citadel of Verdun became the symbol of a bloody defensive victory.

Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs.  The alternative design is titled "Defense of Verdun Medallion"; notice the American variant of the spelling of "defense".

The French phrase on the reverse translates to the famous slogan that became associated with the battle of Verdun: "They shall not pass!"

The spelling of "Defence" in the medallion's title is intentional and follows the lettering on the medal. For some reason Manship picked the British variant of "defense" for this medal.

The circular medal measures 103mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.

The plaquette's obverse bears a Phoenix rising from a fire. At top, 1851 - 1926; at bottom, PHOENIX MUTUAL / LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

The reverse bears company seal below COMMEMORATING / SEVENTY FIVE YEARS OF / CONTINUOUS PUBLIC SERVICE; in banner to left and rght of seal, HOME OFFICE / HARTFORD, CONN.

The medal's obverse bears idealized forest scene with with doe nuzzling fawn on left side and owls perched on pine branch on right side. Signed at bottom, Eliscu

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by owls with fawn above. At bottom, 1991

This was the 17th medal issued by the Medallic Art Company in its annual calendar medal series. As noted in the brochure that accompanied the medal:

"The 1991 Calendar Medallion by Frank Eliscu is a beautifully sculpted reminder for us to concern ourselves with our environment and to protect animal habitats."

"Beautifully sculpted reminder" is a very aptly chosen phrase because the medal's obverse was reused from the very first medal in the calendar medal series issued in 1975. I don't know what the rationale behind that choice was.  Maybe the designs for the next planned medal were running late, maybe the Medallic Art company was in business turmoil at the time, but regardless, Frank Eliscu saw his design used twice in one medal series!

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and (probably) silver by the Medallic Art Company. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1991

The obverse bears human body with circulatory system over a head facing right. Around, MEDICINE - THE RELIEF OF SUFFERING AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE; signed at lower right, M HIBBIT

The reverse bears same head, this time facing left. Legend completely filling head, THE GREAT / EXPERIMENT / THAT MAN BEGAN / UPON HIMSELF / MEDICINE / IS NOT YET ENDED / NOR WILL IT EVER / BE COMPLETED / 1974

References:   MACo 1963-001-025, GANYU 25

References:   ANS 17, Marqusee 272