American Numismatic Society

This medal's obverse bears upper body of colonial soldier wearing tricorne and holding musket. At left, 1776 / (ANS seal); at right, 1976; signed at bottom, Americo

The reverse bears Liberty pole with ribbons attached; at lower right, the seal of Ne York State. On ribbons, Liberty / New York State American Revolution / Bicentennial / 1776 1976

This medal was the 51st official medal issued by the American Numismatic Society in 1976.  It was struck in six different variants.  Five variants were struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut, the silver proof variant as struck by the Franklin Mint.  Beyond sponsoring the design competition in 1972, the American Numismatic Society really had limited input into and no control of the production of this medal. No mintages are reported for any of the variants.  At least the bronze pieces are very common and the the silver pieces don't seem to be too uncommon. The only rare variant is probably the gold 25mm piece which I have only seen at auction once in five years.

References:   ANS 51

The medal's obverse bears the original Federal Hall over the seal of the City of New York. Around top, NEW YORK CITY; around bottom, FIRST CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; under Fderal Hall, WASHINGTON'S INAUGURATION / FEDERAL HALL - 1789

The reverse bears five revolutionary soldiers with cannon and flag; ANS seal below; around, thirteen stars representing the original states. Around, BICENTENNIAL / 1776 / 1976 / AMERICAN REVOLUTION; signed below cannon, JOHN RUSSELL / RIDGE

This medal was the 52nd official issue of the American Numismatic Society in 1976.

As with the New York State Bicentennial Medal, the American Numismatic Society's influence ended with the design competition in 1972.  The medal was produced in six variant, five of which were struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut, and the silver proof medal struck by the Franklin Mint.  No mintages are reported for any of the variants.

References:   ANS 52

The medal's obverse bears owl perched on an oak branch. Above, MEMBER'S MEDAL; to left, PARVA NE / PEREANT; signed at lower right, ELISCU

The medal's reverse bears an oak sapling growing through a rock. Around, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

By the 1970's it became apparent that a new member medal had to be created.  The stock of old Borglum medals was about to be exhausted and the old dies were not in good enough shape for another production run.  The ensuing competition was won by Frank Eliscu with a design that bore a Barn owl symbolizing wisdom and learning.  As Eliscu wrote in his notes:

The owl has long been a symbol of learning and scholarship. The Greeks associates the owl with their patroness Athena, Godess [sic] of Knowledge, and this bird look [sic] out from the obverse side of Athenian coins.

In using the Barn Owl, I am trying to relate more closely with the American scene, and as the A.N.S. is one of America's oldest learned societies. I feel the Barn owl, stylized, a most appropriate symbol.

The medal thus became the 53rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society. Exact mintages are not available but by April 1979 the following mintages were reported:  122 in silver and 241 in bronze.  The initial order carried serial numbers on the edge.

References:   ANS 53, MACo 1977-123

The plaquette's obverse bears a moneyer producing a coin by striking a die with a hammer. Behind him, representations of rare medals from the ANS collection. Signed and dated at lower right, (JOV monogram / 83)

The reverse bears three panels, arranged vertically. In top panel, a screw press; in bottom panel, a Janvier pantographic lathe making a reduction of V. D. Brenner's Lincoln cent; in central panel at left, 1858; at right, 1983; in middle, THE AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / SOCIETY / (oak leaf) / "parva ne pereant"

This medal was the 54th official issue of the American Numismatic Society in 1983.  It was chosen by an ad-hoc committee which selected from designs submitted by seven different sculptors. Marcel Jovine won the design competition (and a cash award of $3,500) but his original design was rejected by some Council members due to male nudity. 

Jovine submitted an alternative design that did not include the male nudity and that design was accepted, even though some members quibbled that the moneyer looked like he was going to hit himself rather than the die.

The plaquette was struck in bronze, silver and gold by Stefano Johnson of Italy. The mintage is reported as 2 pieces in gold, 100 in silver, and 500 in bronze.  Originally,only 2 gold pieces were produced but Frank Bass' gold piece was lost and so a third piece was struck.

References:   ANS 54

References:   ANS 55

This medal does not have a traditional obverse and reverse. It is cast of two parts, the upper piece being two stylized fingers holding a coin bearing the ANS seal. The upper piece nestles into the base that bears the acronym ANS on its surface.

This medal was the 56th official issue of the American Numismatic Scoiety's member medal series. It was issued as part of the Society's endowment drive in the period from 1986 to 1989.  While bronze variants were for sale to all members at a price of $100, silver variants were only given to donors who contributed at least $5,000 to the Society's coffers.

The irregularly shaped two-piece medal measures approximately 83mm x 82mm and was cast in bronze and silver by the C. A. Brown Foundry. The production quantity is reported as 48 pieces in bronze and 70 in silver.

References:   ANS 56

The medal's obverse bears one of Columbus' ships mirrored on a raised globe. At left, 1492; below, Voyage of Columbus; signed at right, M D

The medal's reverse bears American Eagle, hovering over globe. At right, 1992; below, The American Numismatic Society

This medal proved to be a financial disappointment for the ANS.  Sales lagged, probably due to the the fact that Columbus had become a controversial figure over the course of the last 100 years. Instead of the popular hero who discovered a continent he was now widely seen as a symbol of Euro-centric history and colonialism.  This is truly a shame because the medal is quite beautiful and would have deserved wider acclaim.

The square medal measures 68mm x 68mm and was struck by J. Jenkins Sons of Baltimore. The mintage is reported as 2 pieces in gold, 100 in silver and 500 in bronze.

References:   ANS 57