All Medals

The medal's obverse bears a winged cherub holding two laurel crowns. At lower right, GLORIA.

The reverse bears a cicada flanked by FA - MA; in lower right Jennewein's distinctive signature, a stylized facial profile, CPJ / 1933 / ©. The border is boldly beaded.

Jennewein contrasts Glory and Fame, two aspects of achievement and recognition, on a medal, which itself is often used as an award. He thus makes a subtle point not just about the distinction between fame and glory but also about the medium itself. In his "Message from the Artist" Jennewein wrote:

"Fame and Glory are symbolized in this medal as the elements in the life of men which the awarding of medals is designed to promote and recognize. But the artist has made a subtle distinction between that Glory which, unsought, belongs to those who aspire, strive and sacrifice for a great ideal, and that Fame which is won by self-seeking in the attainment of public eminence for the gratification of personal power and vanity."

He used the cicada as a symbol for the latter because its "noisy and shrill self-assertion gains wide hearing but is only the discordant demonstration of an obstreperous but insignificant creature." If Jennewein was annoyed by this type of person, I wonder what he would make of much of modern pop culture...

This medal was chosen as the 7th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York reportedly struck 1,237 pieces in bronze and 125 (out of 700 authorized) in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-007, Marqusee 209, SoM 7

References:   MACo 1970-044

The obverse bears a bust l. of Lafayette in Garde Nationale uniform. Legend below, MARIE JOSEPH PAVL / YVES ROCHE GILBERT DVMOTIER / MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE / MAJOR GENERAL IN THE SERVICE OF / THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / AND NOBLEST PATRIOT OF THE / FRENCH REVOLTION; signed J E ROINE.

The reverse bears Liberty advancing with sword, falgsm eagle, 1776 on rising sun, 1789 in clouds. Dedication below, AD PERPETVAM REI / MEMORIAM / MCMXI (for the everlasting memory of the events); signed J E ROINE.

This medal was the fifth issue in the Circle of Friends of the Medallion series. It measures 47mm x 77mm and was produced by the J.K. Davison Company of Philadelphia. Its mintage is probably known... but unfortunately not to the author of this page.

References:   Baxter 303, CoF 5, Marqusee 335

References:   Cal HM-2003

The medal's obverse bears a pod of dolphins leaping from ocean wave. Signed at bottom, EVERHART II

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by dolphins. Above, 1984.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in various materials by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1984

The medal's obverse bears legend only. Around, ROCKWELL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (star); across, 1980 / OFFICIAL / CORPORATE / SEAL

The reverse bears rectangular calendar panel with 1980 above.

This totally uninspired medal is a great example of a collectible medal that is not an art medal. The Rockwell Society issued calendar medals for many years and they only differ in the year and the calendar details.

Dick Johnson attributes this medal to Marcel Jovine. While I believe his research, that indicates to me that Marcel Jovine must either have been in desperate need of money or the Rockwell Society granted him no artistic freedom at all.

I only included this medal in my collection because it provides a great example of a "bread-and-butter" medal, both in general and in particular for calendar medals.

The circular medal measures 64.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 16

References:   Cal HM-2001

References:   MACo 1930-053