All Medals

The plaque's obverse bears portrait of young woman, facing right.

The reverse is inscribed with: you are my / life and heart /  forever in this world / my only love Rose / Paul Cricchio

This beautiful declaration of love by the artist to his wife or future wife is mounted on a wooden board with a cut-out that in turn is covered by a latched brass lid.  Upon opening the lid, the dedication becomes visible.

The plaque measures 247mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. No production numbers are reported.

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Charles Platt facing left. Around, · CHARLES · PLATT · ARCHITECT · MCMXVIII ·

The reverse bears nude unwinged putto resting one foot on a corner of little temple's roof while measuring it with calipers; streamer bearing LABORE - ET - CONSTANTIA held in other hand; signed in exergue, Paul Manship / Rome

Charles Adams Platt (1861-1933) designed many museum buildings, including the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art, which was commissioned in 1913 and opened to the public ten years later. Both Platt and Manship were participants in the famous artists’ colony at Cornish, New Hampshire.

The classical tempietto (little temple) and calipers on the reverse symbolize Platt's profession as an architect. The Latin motto translates roughly to "toil and fidelity" and appears on the coats of arms of many European families.

The circular medallion measures 96mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.  No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 472

The medal bears laurel-crowned male figure grabbing a suspended ring with pommel horse and high bar in background. At bottom, PASADENA / NATIONAL INV. / GYMNASTICS; down right side, 1 9 5 1; signed at lower right, (DW monogram)

The reverse is stamped: 2ND PLACE / ROPE / CLIMB; engraved to: MIRROR BRIGHT POLISH / DONOR

The National Invitational Gymnastics Competition was a collegiate competition for male students. They competed in the modern male gymnastics disciplines as well as in rope climbing.

The circular medal measures 57.4mm in diameter. I do not have any information about the artst represented by hs/her initials DW or the mint that struck this medal.  Any information would be welcome.

The medal's obverse bears young woman, r., holding staff with furled American flag. Around, FOR GOD AND COUNTRY / SEMPER / FIDELIS; signed and dated to left of woman, (RTM monogram) / 1925 / ©

The reverse bears American eagle over cartouche and American Legion seal. In cartouche, AMERICAN LEGION / SCHOOL AWARD / COURAGE CHARACTER SERVICE / COMPANIONSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

The American Legion was formed in February 1919 by three officers of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris. Congress chartered the organization in September of the same year and the group became very influential, playing the leading role in drafting and passing the so-called "GI Bill."

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-046

The medal's obverse bears buffalo on mound, palm tree and four female figures representing the three native American and colonial European cultures. In exergue, THE THREE AMERICAS; above exergue at right, PHILA.

The reverse bears wreath of corn, cotton and tobacco around legend. In center field, AWARDED BY / THE / NORTH CENTRAL / AND / SOUTH AMERICAN / EXPOSITION / 1885 - 86 / NEW ORLEANS.

This is a very handsome exposition medal. I find it particularly interesting how the design incorporates four figures instead of the more commonly expected three.  Thus the figures become representative of  culture rather than geography.

The circular medal measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is known.

The medal's obverse bears Dan, facing right, leaning on his staff, kitten behind him; at right, scene with boy falling of shying horse scared by snake; moon and stars in baclground. At top left, DAN; signed and dated in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

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

Dan was Jacob's fifth son, the first he had with Bilah. In the apocryphal Testaments of the Patriarchs, Dan is portrayed as having hated Joseph, and having been the one that invented the idea of deceiving Jacob by the smearing of Joseph's coat with the blood of a kid.

Jacob prophesied that Dan would govern his people as one of the tribes of Israel. The quote runs:

"Dan shall be a serpent by the road... that bites the horses' heels so that his rider is thrown backward."

This is the fifth 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 1969-100-012, TToI 5

References:   MACo 1934-023, Murtha 335

The obverse bears a winged female figure representing Victory striding forward to the left, holding a sword wrapped in a palm leaf; a radiant sun in the background. Around: VIXIT - VIVIT - VIVET (Lived, Conquered, Shall Live).

The reverse bears a scroll with fasces behind at center, inscribed: IN MEMORY/ OF ONE WHO/ DIED IN THE/ CAUSE OF/ FREEDOM AND/ HUMANITY. Above, an eagle holding a laurel wreath perches atop the end of a cannon and ball. Around: PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF DETROIT - 1919.

The Society of Arts and Crafts, Detroit, issued memorial medals in 1919 that were given by the City of Detroit to the families of men who lost their lives in the Great War.

An earlier version of this medal, with a less evolved obverse design, is in the Smithsonian Art Museum Collection.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck 900 pieces in bronze.

References:   MACo 1919-011

References:   Marqusee 331