All Medals

References:   MACo 1971-013-004, WR 4

The medal's obverse bears soldiers advancing past a fallen comrade on a battlefield strewn with wildflowers and fleurs-de-lis, the ancient badge of French glory; explosions and smoke filling background. On scroll around bottom, THE · FRENCH · HEROES' · FUND

The reverse bears allegorical figure of America emerging from threatening clouds, stretching arms out protectively over children reading and playing at her feet; radiant beams of light behind figure. In exergue, · AMERICA · AIDS · THE · / · CHILDREN · OF · / · FRANCE · ; signed along lower left, · P · MANSHIP · / © 1918

The French Heroes' Fund was established by Americans to rehabilitate wounded French soldiers, to help their families, and to aid children orphaned by the First World War. The fund purchased the childhood château of the Marquis de Lafayette–America's ally in the  Revolutionary War–and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of the French.

The allegorical figure of America wears the Phrygian cap and classical gown that also symbolizes Marianne, France's version of  America's "Lady Liberty." 

The circular medal measures 65.1mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   Baxter 366, MACo 1918-006, Murtha 104

References:   Murtha 365

References:   ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

The plaquette's obverse bears conjoined busts of Stockton, Rush, and Witherspoon, facing left. Below, ~ STOCKTON ~ RUSH ~ WITHERSPOON ~ / ~ To ~ commemorate ~ the ~ signing ~ of ~ the ~ / ~ DECLARATION ~ of ~ INDEPENDENCE ~

The reverse bears Nassau Hall with trumpet-playing angel flying above and Princeton seal below. To right of seal, ~ Nassau~ Hall ~ 1776 ~ / ~ PRINCETON ~ 1926 ~; signed faintly at bottom right, G. Cecere

The plaquette measures 89.4mm x 61.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-030, Marqusee 105

The medal's obverse bears view of giant mausoleum tower with mountains in background and two human figures on plaza for scale.

The reverse bears calendar panels between columns. At bottom, 2004

Mausollos (377 - 353 BC) was a provincial ruler in the Persian Empire. His provincial capital, Halicarnassus, is located on the Aegean Sea and corresponds with the modern day Turkish city of Budrum. Mausollos' wife and sister conceived of the project and he hired the Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius to design the building. It was completed three years after Mausollos' death in 350 BC. 

The word "mausoleum" is derived from this building.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus  calendar medal was the seventh and last issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was probably designed by Mark Frost and sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell but, in a breach with earlier calendar medal issues, the pamphlet that came with the medal listed neither designer nor sculptor. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand. 

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported.  The bronze pieces originally sold for $34.95, the silver pieces for $189.

References:   Cal MA-2004

This medal's obverse bears Mercury at left, cornucopia at his feet, gazing upon industrious scene with modern jet, ship, and bales and barrels. Around, 125TH ANNIVERSARY S.E.L. MADURO & SONS, INC. - 1837 - CURACAO · N · A · ~ 1962

The reverse bears front facing bust of founder before seascape with anchor to his left and dolphin to his right. Around, S · E · L · MADURO FOUNDER - · 24TH JANUARY 1837 ·

The company was established by Salomon Elias Levy Maduro in 1837. He started his own ship's agency and bunkering services company in the port of Curacao. During the years that followed his sons joined him in the business. Under the name of S.E.L. Maduro & Sons it evolved into a holding company with interests in real estate, travel and leisure activities, and a variety of services related to the shipping and transportation industry.

This medal is a reprise of a 1937 medal, also designed by Ruotolo, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of S.E.L. Maduro.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1961-079

References:   BG 27

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.

References:   MACo 1930-001-087, SoM 87