Calendar Medals

References:   MACo 1989-329, Cal MA-1990

The medal's obverse bears imagery from Egyption mythology, goddess Hathor kneeling in center, facing right, flanked by stylized river and tree, heiroglyphic panels, snake and bird.

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by Sekhmet and Horus. Above wings with year 1991 in oval frame; below, river boat with kneeling figure holding paddle.

Hathor was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion who played a wide variety of roles. As a sky deity, she was the mother or consort of the sky god Horus and the sun god Ra, both of whom were connected with kingship, and thus she was the symbolic mother of their earthly representatives, the pharaohs.

Sekhmet is a warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing. She is depicted as a lioness, the fiercest hunter known to the Egyptians. It was said that her breath formed the desert. She was seen as the protector of the pharaohs and led them in warfare. Sekhmet is also a solar deity, sometimes called the daughter of Ra and often associated with the goddesses Hathor.

Horus is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities. He was worshipped from at least the late prehistoric Egypt until the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Roman Egypt. The most commonly encountered family relationship describes Horus as the son of Isis and Osiris, and he plays a key role in the Osiris myth as Osiris's heir and the rival to Set, the murderer of Osiris. In another tradition Hathor is regarded as his mother and sometimes as his wife. Horus served many functions, most notably being a god of kingship and the sky.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Franklin Mint. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal FM-1991

The medal's obverse bears idealized forest scene with with doe nuzzling fawn on left side and owls perched on pine branch on right side. Signed at bottom, Eliscu

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by owls with fawn above. At bottom, 1991

This was the 17th medal issued by the Medallic Art Company in its annual calendar medal series. As noted in the brochure that accompanied the medal:

"The 1991 Calendar Medallion by Frank Eliscu is a beautifully sculpted reminder for us to concern ourselves with our environment and to protect animal habitats."

"Beautifully sculpted reminder" is a very aptly chosen phrase because the medal's obverse was reused from the very first medal in the calendar medal series issued in 1975. I don't know what the rationale behind that choice was.  Maybe the designs for the next planned medal were running late, maybe the Medallic Art company was in business turmoil at the time, but regardless, Frank Eliscu saw his design used twice in one medal series!

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and (probably) silver by the Medallic Art Company. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1991

References:   Cal MA-1993

References:   Cal HM-1993

References:   Cal FM-1994

The medal's obverse bears jungle scene populated by many animals, all of which represent species on the brink of extinction. Animals include the "Sumatran Rhino", the "Mountain Gorilla", the "Black Caiman", the "Birdwing Butterfly", and the elephant. Signed at left bottom, EVERHART

The reverse bears calendar panel with pair of monkeys on top, family of jaguars at bottom. to left and right, 19 - 94

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  No mintages are reported. Medals were originally available at a cost of $34.95 per bronze and $150 per silver piece.

References:   Cal MA-1994

The medal's obverse bears diamond-shaped centerfield with sun surrounded by labels for the four quadrants depicting plants representing the four seasons; from top right in clockwise order, grapes (Autumn Equinox), flowers (Summer Solstice), fresh leaves (Spring Equinox), pine branches and cones (Winter solstice). On ring surrounding four quadrants in cursive script, The turning of the earth and the seasons. Signed in summer quadrant, MG

The reverse bears calendar panel doubling up as trellis, framed by flowers on three sides and vertical 1995 at right.

The medal was designed by Melody Gorzelanczyk and modeled by Virginia Janssen.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in brone by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal MC-1995

The medal's obvseres bears view of mountain populated by all kinds of wildlife; bear dominates left, waiting for salmon running upstream; in background, moose, beaver, ,squirrel, deer, bighorn sheep and eagle. Signed at lower right, EVERHART

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by two bighorns, squirrels on meadow at bottom. At top, 1995

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The bronze medals originally cost $34.95 and the silver medals $169.  No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1995

References:   Cal MA-1996