All Medals

This medal's obverse bears three draped allegorical female figures, the rightmost holding a mask. On left and right of figures, ACTORS' - FUND / JUNE 8 1882; signed at lower right, BEACH

The medal's reverse bears the traditional masks of tragedy and comedy. Incuse around top, ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA; dated and inscribed to recipient at bottom, AUGUST 6, 1964 / FLOYD W. STOKER

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

The Actors' Fund Medal was inaugurated on May 9, 1910 when it was first presented to President William Howard Taft. The award was revived in 1958, and since 1992, when Shubert Organization President Bernard B. Jacobs was recognized, the award has been presented at an annual fundraising gala in New York City. Since then, leading actors and organizations have been recognized with this high honor which is awarded to individuals and organizations that enrich the entertainment community.

In 1964 the award went to three recipients: Angus Duncan, Zero Mostel and Floyd W. Stoker. This particular medal was awarded to Floyd W. Stoker.

The original medal bore the legend NEW YORK / 1910 on the obverse. It was only awarded once in 1910 and then never again. There has been some controversy whether the original medal was co-issued with the American Numismatic Society because a tiny ANS seal can be found on the medal's obverse. However, there is no documentation that supports that this medal was an ANS issue.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

This uniface medal bears bust of Ellen Dexter Sharpe facing left. Around upper rim, ELLEN DEXTER SHARPE; signed along shoulder line, R N Burnham 1916

The edge contains maker's mark MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.

Ellen Dexter Sharpe (1861-1957) was the second daughter of Rhode Island industrialist Wilkes Sharpe and his wife Louisa Dexter. Ellen Dexter Sharpe became one of New Englands foremost philanthropists, benefiting, among many others, organizations like Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.

The medal measures 72mm (2 13/16in) in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

The medal's obverse depicts a tree in front of waterfall and wilderness in center field. Around, (star) CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY

Around, 18 maple leaves; incuse dedication in center field: IN RECOGNITION OF / TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LOYAL / SERVICE THIS AWARD IS / PRESENTED YO / (inscribed to CORNELIUS C. BARNES) / CANADIAN / INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY / AND AFFILIATES / 1945

The company was incorporated January 31, 1898, upon the merger of 18 pulp and paper mills in the northeastern United States. Its founders and first two presidents were William Augustus Russell and Hugh J. Chisholm. The newly formed company supplied 60 percent of all newsprint in the country.

This is another very nice Chambellan medal that exists in different variants. The U.S. version of this medal differs in the text on the obverse and the reverse.  There also apparently exists a French language version of this medal.

Dick Johnson dates this medal to 1948 but this piece clearly predates that year by three years. The numismatist Harry Waterson offered the observation that the dies might actually have been transferred to the Medallic Art Company from a different mint and that the year 1948 in MACo's records only indicates when that transfer occurred, not when the dies were created. This would of course mean that early instances of the medal were not struck by the Medallic Art Company at all.  Further information would be very welcome.

The medal measures 62mm in diameter. It is not known which mint struck this particular medal but in later years the Medallic Art Company of New York struck this medal in bronze. No mintage is reported.