All Medals

The obverse bears sprig of three oak leaves; above, ribbon bearing legend PARVA NE PEREANT; around AMERICAN NUMISMATIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY / (acorn) MEMBER'S MEDAL (acorn)

The reverse bears oak wreath around center field. Around, FOUNDED AT NEW YORK MDCCCLVIII / INCORPD MDCCCLXV; signed below wreath, G.H.L.

This is the third medal issued by the American Numismatic Society. It was "the first draft" of the membership medal. The reverse die was rejected and a new version was created for the next official medal.

The circular medal measures 42mm in diameter. Only 12 pieces in white metal are known to have been struck.

The obverse bears bust of Lincoln, r. (two button holes on lapel). Around, SALVATOR / PATRIAE.; signed below truncation, EMIL SIGEL FECIT.

The reverse bears wreath around circumference; ribbon running through wreath with inscription PUB. BY THE / AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / AND / ARCHAEOLOGICAL / SOCIETY / NEW YORK 1867. In center field, IN / MEMORY / OF THE / LIFE AND DEATH / OF / ABRAHAM LINCOLN / BORN FEBRUARY 12. 1809. / DIED APRIL 15. 1865.

This is the second medal issued by the American Numismatic Society. It could also be regarded a variant of the first ANS medal. After the first set of dies broke this second set was created by Sigel. It turned out though that the first set was still usable. Consequently, all circulated pieces were struck using the first set of dies. The second set was only used once in 1915 for the Society's own archive.

The circular medal measures 83mm in diameter. Only one piece in lead is known to have been struck. Additionally, one set of uniface imprints is known.

This plaque bears likeness of Elga Sinding, facing left. At lower left, ELGA / SINDING / · A · D · MDC / · CCCXI; signed at top, TSS - PARIS

Elga Sinding (1859-1936) was an actress and muse and wife of sculptor Stephan Sinding. Thomas Spicer-Simson met the Sindings while staying in Paris and created this beautiful little portrait plaque in 1911. The plaque was part of an exhibition of Portrait Reliefs and Medals by Spicer-Simson that was shown at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1919.

The circular plaque measures 107.8mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears Perle Mesta's bust facing half-left. Above, PATRIOT DIPLOMAT PHILANTHROPIST; to left, PERLE MESTA; to right, KG monogram.

The reverse bears the seal of the state of Oklahoma. Above, OKLAHOMA'S AMBASSADOR / TO THE WORLD; around seal, GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA - 1907; below, APRIL 22 / 1965.

Perle Reid Mesta (née Skirvin) (October 12, 1889 – March 16, 1975) was an American socialite, political hostess, and U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg (1949–1953). Mesta was known as the "hostess with the mostest" for her lavish parties featuring the brightest stars of Washington, D.C., society, including artists, entertainers and many top-level national political figures.