All Medals

The medal's obverse bears bust of Oskar Barnack facing three quarters right. Around bottom, OSKAR BARNACK - LEICA INVENTOR; at top right, 1879 / 1936; signed under truncation, (J / J. monogram)

The medal's reverse bears laurels and palm frond flanking LEICA / EXHIBIT / AWARD / OF / MERIT; inscribed, 19 / GAIL GORDON / PITTSBURGH / 38

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

This medal celebrates the life of Oskar Barnack (1879-1936), the inventor of 35mm photography. Barnack was an avid hobby photographer who suffered from asthma. Due to his poor health he had trouble carrying the heavy and bulky camera equipment around with him, so he invented a more portable camera. The Leica brand was born in 1925 when his employer (Ernst Leitz) took a gamble and produced 1,000 cameras for sale to the public. They chose "Leica" as the brand name. The name was derived from Leitz camera.

On the hundredth anniversary of Barnack's birth, World Press Photo instituted the Oskar Barnack Award; this award is now administered by Leica Camera.

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

References:   MACo 1936-010

References:   MACo 1971-013-012, WR 12

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 obverse bears the old NBC logo crisscrossed in the center; double lightning bolts extending from all corners of the cross. On left and right of lightning bolts above, 19 / 26; on left and right of lighning bolts below, 19 / 36.

The reverse bears text only. Around, NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY * A RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA SERVICE * ; in center field, TENTH ANNIVERSARY / TO THOSE WHO HAVE SHARED WITH US / IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF BROADCASTING.

The medal commemorates the tenth anniversary of the National Broadcasting Company which was founded in 1926. It was distributed to its employees in 1936.

From Chris Bach, whom I owe big thanks for information about art medals, I learned the following:

This scarce Art Deco medal has long been "unsigned" in various auctions with no artist or sculptor identified or credited with the design. However, the Cleveland Museum of Art credits the medal as being a collaboration of three people: "modeled by Julio Kilenyi (American, b. 1885); obverse designed by Richard A Loederer (American, b. 1894) and the reverse designed by E.P.H. James (American)" - a gift to the museum's collection by the National Broadcasting Company in 1937 (No. 1937.9.A/B). A specimen at the New York Historical Society in NYC also credits Julio Kilenyi; and the Library of Congress collection identifies a similar item designed by Loederer in their NBC History Files: 1922-1986, Folder 173, Logos, "Photo of tenth anniversary (1936) plaque designed by Richard Loederer of Vienna."

I have only ever seen a bronze variant once.  It is usually the silver-plated variant that comes up for sale.

This medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver plated bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts.

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

The medal's obverse bears a fish, a schooner under full sail and a sea gull in flight. Around edge, GLOUCESTER MASSACHUSETTS; signed under fish, G. Aarons 1973

The medal's reverse bears painter's palette with brushes, writer's book, and sculptor's mallet. Around top, 350TH ANNIVERSARY; at bottom, 1623 - 1973

Gloucester is a coastal city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts. That beautiful part of Massachusetts has traditionally attracted artists who had their summer studios there or lived there year round. Aarons was no exception to this trend. For many years he had studios in Brookline and Gloucester and, as a long-time resident, was honored with the task of creating the commemorative town medal that combines the coastal and artistic elements of the community.

The medal measures 38.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.

Many thanks to Fred Beihl (www.StewartstownCoinShop.com, 717-993-3163) who sent me the images and measurements.

References:   MACo 1972-099

The obverse bears kneeling nude female figure gazing upwards in supplication. At bottom, PEACE; signed at bottom left, EMIL FUCHS

The reverse depicts a fight between two muscular nude male figures, one almost cowering, the other looming above him in almost theatrical pose. WAR inscribed in the exergue; signed at bottom left, EMIL FUCHS

The bottom edge is marked with "PAT PENDING" CARTIER NEW YORK - PARIS - LONDON; numbered 24 on left edge.

This medal was issued by Cartier and struck to commemorate the Treaty of Versailles marking the end of World War I. Miller also notes that

"Fuchs had previously submitted a design to the American Numismatic Society for its Peace medal. The Society eventually awarded the commission to Chester Beach. Although there is no documentation to support this theory, it is possible that this medal reflects that rejected design.

The medal measures 48mm x 70mm and was struck in bronze and silver by Cartier.

References:   Baxter 322, Marqusee 190

The medal's obverse bears eagle, about to launch itself into the air, broken chain links at its talons.

The reverse bears two-line maker's mark: TOWLE / SOM © 1977

This paperweight is part of a small series of promotional items that were manufactured in the 1970's. The obverse sides of some of the earlier, more popular Society of Medalists medals were taken and issued as paperweights. The attempt proved commercially unsuccessful.

The circular paperweight measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears nude Columbia seated on winged car, holding palm frond in outstretched left and resting right on cornucopia; on left, rising sun over clouds; on right, clouds. At left above sun, 1892; signed at right with artist's letter V.

The reverse bears dedication: TO / Thies J. Lefens / ONE OF THE DIRECTORS / OF THE WORLD'S / COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / FROM ITS PRESIDENT / HARLOW N. HIGINBOTHAM / CHICAGO / 1893

Thies Jacob Lefens (1846-1913) was a Chicago-based real estate dealer and businessman. He was born in Hamburg and emigrated to the U.S. in 1863. After working in the produce commission business he joined the Conrad Seipp brewing company, where he eventually became secretary and treasurer.  He married into the Seipp family and entered the real estate business.

This medal exists in several variations and materials.  Vedder's design on the obvese is combined with different dedications to honor designers, architects, managers, and other high-ranking dignitaries of the Columbian Exposition.  All variations are quite rare.

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in silver. No mintage is reported.

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