All Medals

The obverse bears five nude youths bearing father's bier. The youngest carries a laurel wreath. Around, IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS; at lower left, BEACH / © 1937.

The reverse bears a gaunt father carrying son's body from the battlefield as vultures circle. Around, IN WAR THE FATHERS BURY THEIR SONS.

The brochure which acommpanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"The tought of the medal is a simple, universal one when men pause to think straight; for that reason I have designed the medal as of no particular period. The Greeks probably put it most tersely, 'In Peace the Sons bury the Fathers, in War the Fathers bury the Sons.' Are our young men to be buried almost before mature manhood, under long rows of stone crosses, or are they to round out their lives and in turn be buried in reverence by their sons in peace? A thought to keep well before our vision as present war clouds again surround us."

Chester Beach put it well but what were the old and the young men to do when young men in other countries were being led towards war by their leaders?

This medal was chosen as the 16th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the reported production quantity of this medal is 941 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-016, Marqusee 51, SoM 16

References:   Cal FM-1967

This medal's obverse bears Harvard's coat of arms with VE - RI -TAS on open books surrounded by wreath. Around, ANNO · ACADEMIAE · HARVARDIANA · TRECENTESIMO · - · MDCCCCXXXVI ·

The reverse bears multiline inscription, 1636 · 1936 / OUT OF SMALL / BEGINNINGS GREAT / ER THINGS HAVE / BEEN PRODUSED BY HIS / HAND THAT MADE ALL / THINGS OF NOTHING / AND GIVES BEING / TO ALL THINGS / THAT ARE

Harvard University itself needs little introduction. Founded in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature and named after its first prominent benefactor, John Harvard, Harvard is the oldest and probably most prestigious U.S. university (though Yale University is in eternal contention for the latter.)

Harvard University celebrated the three-hundredth anniversary of the College's founding in 1936 with an elaborate Tercentenary Celebration. The festivities included exhibits, special lectures, summer school courses, and culminated with the Tercentenary Days on September 16-18, 1936. Delegates from other academic institutions and learned societies were invited for the celebration and to participate in symposia discussing their fields. This medal was given as a present to all of the delegates who attended the celebration. The inscription on the reverse is a quotation from William Bradford's History of Plimmoth Plantation.

The circular medal measures 81.9mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. The medal was also struck in silver, attached to ribbons, and used as a badge by attendees of the Tercentenary Conference of Arts and Sciences. Smaller diameter coins were distributed as well during the conference.

References:   MACo 1936-012, Marqusee 103

References:   MACo 1971-013-014, WR 14

This uniface medal bears statue of kneeling female nude in center of fountain in the midst of an elaborate garden. (CLH monogram) in fountain's wall.

This medal is usually seen as a two-sided medal (MACo 1932-034) and probably represents a trial strike or a sample piece. Alternatively, the medal was struck one-sided to leave space for different engravings on the reverse. Clubs sometimes chose to have a batch of uniface medals struck that could then be used as awards or commemorative pieces, as needs arose.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is unknown.

References:   MACo 1932-034

The uniface medallion bears a burning oil lamp surrounded by THE CENTURY / ASSOCIATION and flanked by 1847 - 1947, all surrounded by heavily beaded border.

Carl Paul Jennewein designed this simple and elegant commemorative medallion for the Century Association of New York, a club with a heavy artist presence. 

The circular medallion was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1947-028

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles William Eliot, right. Around top, CHARLES WILLIAM ELIOT

The reverse bears wreath. At top, 1924; in center field, "THE INDIVIDUAL / FINDS THAT / BY SERVING / OTHERS HE BEST / SERVES HIMSELF"; signed above bottom of wreath, © W · CLARK - NOBLE · Sc·

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was one of Harvard University's long-serving presidents. The quote on the medal's reverse is from an essay he entitled "The Happy Life," in which he attempted to provide moral and philosophical guidance, particularly to young people.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears Bolivar on hroseback, facing left. Around,BOLIVAR · EMANCIPO · VENEZUELA · EN · CARABOBO · Y · DE · ALLI · PARTIO · A · REALIZAR · LA · LIBERTAD · DEL · CONTINENTE; signed in exergue at right, Morgan

The reverse bears winged female holding sword and horn. In wreath at her right, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1821; below, JUNIO 24 / DE / 1921; around, EL · GENERAL · JUAN · VICENTE · GOMEZ · EN - CELEBRACION · DEL · CENTENARIO · DE · LA · BATALLA · DE · CARABOBO

The Battle of Carabobo on June 24, 1821, was fought between independence fighters under the command of Venezuelan General Simon Bolivar. and Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. While there were other battles to follow, Bolivar's decisive victory in this battle led to the independence of Venezuela.

This medal really demonstrates Morgan's prowess as a medalist. It is very different from much of the work he did for the U.S. Mint and is one of my favorite medals by him. The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the U.S. Mint. The mintage is not known to me but someone can hopefully help me out with this information.

References:   Murtha 471