All Medals

The obverse bears bust-length profile image of soldier wearing helmet. Signed below bust, DCF.

The reverse bears image of nurse attending injured soldier depicted within cross. Above, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS; to left and right of vertical bar of cross, TO COMMEMORATE - THE VISION AND / ACHIEVEMENT OF - THE WAR COUNCIL / 1917 - 1919; signed below cross, WHL / DCF.

The medal is numbered and contains the maker's mark MEDALLIC ART CO. NY.

This medal was the 42nd issue of the American Numismatic Society. It was co-issued with the American Red Cross in 1920. Daniel Chester French designed it and the Medallic Art Company executed it. The initials of Reverend William H. Low in the medal's reverse were included due to his suggestion that the the nurse stand in front of the bed.

The medal was awarded to twelve New York businessmen who volunteered for the War Council of the American Red Cross. As the Red Cross Bulletin Vol. IV No. 51 (December 13, 1920) states:

"The General Board also presented to the four members of the Wat Council who were present the special Daniel Chester French medal, authorized at its last meeting in recognition of their war service. These were Eli Wadsworth, Cornelius N. Bliss Jr., George E. Scott and Charles D. Norton. The eight other members of the War Council who will receive their medal are Henry P. Davison, chairman; William Howard Taft, George B. Case, Jesse H. Jones, Edward N. Hurley, John D. Ryan, Grayson M., P. Murphy, and Harvey D. Gibson."

The medal measures 70mm (2.75in) and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 12 pieces in gold, 4 in silver and 205 in bronze.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for permission to use the images of the bronze variant.

References:   ANS 42, Baxter 327, MACo 1920-017, Marqusee 176

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Simon J. Murphy, Sr., facing. Around, SIMON J. MURPHY / 1815 - 1905; signed under truncation at right, Eue

The reverse bears a view of the Penobscot Building. Above, PENOBSCOT; over smaller building in background, 1915; below, 1927 1905

Simon J. Murphy Sr. (1815-1905) was a Maine businessman who started out as a logger and ended up in control of vast lumber lands in Michigan and all over America.  He started the take-over of the Pacific Lumber Company, which succeeded two months after his death. The buildings on the reverse are located in Detroit's financial district.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The obverse image depicts the Farnham monumen of Simon Bolivar. Around, MONVMENTO · ERIGIDO · EN · LA · COLINA · BOLIVAR · DEL · CENTRAL · PARK · DE · NVEVA · YORK · E · INAVGVRADO · EL · 19 · DE · ABRIL · DE · 1921; signed on exergue, SALLY JAMES FARNHAM / ©

The reverse shows two allegorical figures representing the two American continents united in the causes of Liberty and Justice, rising sun to their left. Around, "LA · GLORIA · ESTA · EN · SER · GRANDE · Y · EN · SER · VTIL - BOLIVAR"; over sun, EL · LIBERTADOR / 1783 - 1830

Farham created this medal to commemorate the dedication of her best-known work, the equestrian Simon Bolivar in New York's Central Park.

The Whitehead and Hoag Company, as well as the Medallic Art Company each struck versions of this 2 1/2 inch medal. Farnham exhibited it at the 1923 annual exhibition of the National Academy of Design.

Many thanks to the creator of sallyjamesfarnham.org for the beautiful images and the associated information.

References:   MACo 1921-040, Marqusee 137

References:   BG 44

This medal's obverse bears bust of Curley facing three quarters left. Around, GOVERNOR JAMES MICHAEL CURLEY; signed above shoulder at right, Parafino / Sc.

This medal's reverse bears a summary of Curley's public service career surrounded by laurel wreath, seal of the Commonwealth at bottom. Inscription reads MEMBER / OF / BOSTON / COMMON COUNCIL / 1900 - 1901 / MASS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / 1902 - 1903 / BOARD OF ALDERMEN / 1904 - 1905 · 1906 - 1907 · 1908 - 1909 / CITY COUNCIL 1910 - 1911 / 62nd AND 63rd CONGRESS 1911- 1915 / MAYOR OF BOSTON / 1914 - 1917 · 1922 - 1925 · 1930 - 1933 / GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS / 1935 - 1936

James Michael Curley (1874-1958) was one of the most colorful Massachusetts politicians ever and a perfect example of the old-style machine politics of the first half of the 20th century. He rose from poverty to become councillor, member of the House, Mayor of Boston, and even Governor of Massachusetts.

His legendary popularity includes getting elected into public office while serving jail terms for fraud, corruption, and bribery. While the legal troubles gave him a bad reputation among the old upper class Wasps of Boston, the increasingly numerous and vocal Irish immigrant class unfailingly supported him during his career.

In one popular stunt, while Governor of Massachusetts, he appeared at the Harvard University commencement ceremony wearing silk stockings, knee britches, a powdered wig, and a three-cornered hat with flowing plume. When University marshals objected to his costume, the story goes, Curley whipped out a copy of the Statutes of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which prescribed proper dress for the occasion and claimed that he was the only person at the ceremony properly dressed, thereby endearing him to many working and middle class Yankees.

Unlike many other local politicians, James Michael Curley has not been forgotten. Curley is widely believed to have been the model for protagonist Frank Skeffington in the Edwin O'Connor novel "The Last Hurrah". Spencer Tracey portrayed Skeffington in a John Ford film based on the novel. Since Curley, every Boston mayor has been driven in a car with the license registration 576, representing the number of letters in his first, middle, and last name: James (5) Michael (7) Curley (6). The Curley family still holds Massachusetts auto registration number 5. It is owned by his step-son Richard.

The round medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is not reported.

References:   MACo 1936-037

References:   BG 33

The medal's obverse bears female angel in flight, reaching for a star in the firmament. Signed at bottom, B. LUCCHESI

The reverse bears two hands holding an eight-pointed star. Across, Christmas / 1975; at right bottom, © MACO / 1975

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver bu the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1975-164

References:   MACo 1930-022