All Medals

References:   Cal MA-1996

The medal's obverse bears Jeanne d'Arc holding banner atop high-stepping horse, facing right; angel flying at top. Around left and right, terminated by fleur-de-lis, JEANNE · / D' - ARC ·; signed and dated above exergue, PAUL MANSHIP - 1915

The reverse bears praying Jeanne d'Arc burning at the stake, hand reaching from cloud to place laurel crown on her head. Around, · · LA · VIERGE · HER-OIQUE · ET · MARTYRE · MCCCCXXXI · ·

The French inscription around the reverse's edge translates to "The heroic virgin and martyr." 

Manship made the medal to beneift the Italian War Relief Committee.  Three years earlier, in 1912, many Western countries had celebrated the 500th anniversary of Joan of Arc's birth and a lot of medals and statues had been commissioned.  Anna Hyatt Huntington had won the competition to create a heroic statue that was finally unveiled to great public acclaim in 1915. 

The Italian War Relief Fund was organized in 1915 for relieving the distress of noncombatant Italians. As always, Manship was willing to donate art to raise funds for such war-related relief efforts. This medal tied neatly into the public's fascination with the historical figure and doubled up as a not so subtle reminder that a huge conflagration had engulfed France and other parts of Europe.

The circular medal measures 74mm and was cast in bronze. It is not known how many pieces were cast. A six inch model is known to exist as well.

References:   Marqusee 255, Murtha 70

The medallion's obverse bears a tall ship under full sail, half left, followed by other ship on horizon.  Below, FROM / W. R. GRACE & CO. / WILLIAM J. CASHiN / 1965 / IN RECOGNITION OF / 20 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE

The medallion's reverse bears the American double continent with shipping lines, surrounded by modern images including skyscrapers, freighter, industrial installations, plantations, and an airplane.

W.R. Grace and Company was founded in 1854, in Peru, by William Russell Grace, who left Ireland due to the potato famine, and traveled to South America with his father and family. He went first to Peru to work as a ship's chandler for the firm of Bryce and Company, to the merchantmen harvesting guano, used as a fertilizer and gunpowder ingredient.

His brother Michael joined the business and in 1865 the company name was changed to Grace Brothers & Co. The company set up head office operations in New York City in 1865. Working in fertilizer and machinery, the company was formally chartered in 1872, and incorporated in 1895.

The circular medallion measures 88.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1937-019

The medal's obverse bears biplane with decorated fuselage labeled "EASTERN AIR TRANSPORT INC. / US MAIL No 19" flying from right to left; in background, route plan with ten stops from Miami to New Brunswick. Around, · 1928 · FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE · 1978 · / EASTERN AIRLINES

The reverse bears companiy's logo at top with multi-line inscription: EASTERN / This 50th Anniversary medallion / contains metal from most of the aircraft / Eastern has flown since the Pitcairn Mailwing / and from the Apollo spacecraft as well. / It commemorates the progress we have made / together over the last 50 years in attaining the / highest standards of air transportation. / It also symbolizes our dedication and commitment to excellence in the future. / Congratulations, / (Frank Borman signature) / Frank Borman / President

Eastern was one of the "Big Four" domestic airlines created by the Spoils Conferences of 1930, and was headed by World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker in its early years. It had a near monopoly in air travel between New York and Florida from the 1930s until the 1950s and dominated this market for decades afterward.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the deregulation, labor disputes and high debt loads strained the company under the leadership of former astronaut Frank Borman. Frank Lorenzo acquired Eastern in 1985 and moved many of its assets to his other airlines, including Continental Airlines and Texas Air. After continued labor disputes and a crippling strike in 1989, Eastern ran out of money and was liquidated in 1991.

Before becoming president of Eastern Air, Frank Borman was one of the Apollo 8 astronauts, which might help explain how metal from that spacecraft ended up in the planchets.

The oval medal measures 77.2mm x 62.8mm and was struck in bronze.  Neither mint nor mintage, nor the artist who designed this handsome medal are known at this time.

References:   Murtha 96

The medal's obverse bears Uncle Sam, carrying pickaxe over shoulder with one hand and holding spade with other, spade handle bisecting the Americas in background at the isthmus. Around, PANAMA PACIFIC EXPOSITION SAN DIEGO 1915

The reverse bears view of S.S. Ancon in canal lock. Around, PANAMA CANAL OPENED BY S.S. ANCON / OFFICIAL SOUVENIR; in exergue, AUG. 15. 1914

The circular medal measures 34mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 465

References:   Baxter 272

The obverse bears lazy man asleep under stylized tree, blazing sun overhead, snail in sleeper's shadow at left. Below THOU SLUGGARD; at lower edge of figure, J. de Coux ©

The reverse bears three ants communicating with antennae amid grass. Around, GO TO THE ANT CONSIDER HER WAYS / (thistle) AND BE WISE (sunflower)

Janet de Coux based her medal on Proverbs 6:6:

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise;
Which having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as a robber,
And thy want as an armed man.

This medal was chosen as the 25th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1942. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 767 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-025, Marqusee 116, SoM 25