Medallic Art Company

The medal's obverse bears glass and hand in the center, flanked by the company's headquarters in 1842 and the company's contemporary headquarters. Over buildings, 1842 / 1942; around, OUR HAND HAS NEVER / LOST ITS SKILL; at lower right, signed R. CHAMBELLAN SC.

The medal's reverse bears border of hops and grain around center field with inscription: TO / COMMEMORATE / OUR 100TH YEAR / THE F.&M. SCHAEFER / BREWING CO. / AMERICA'S OLDEST LAGER BEER.

The F.&M. Schaefer Brewery is the longest operating brewery in New York City, the last operating brewery in New York City [as of 1976], and America's oldest lager beer brewing company - all these honors, plus many others, belong to the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company.

"F. & M." stands for Frederick and Maximilian, the brothers who founded Schaefer. Frederick Schaefer, a native of Wetzlar, Prussia, Germany, emigrated to the U.S. in 1838. When he arrived in New York City on October 23rd he was 21 years old and had exactly $1.00 to his name. There is some doubt as to whether or not he had been a practicing brewer in Germany, but there is no doubt that he was soon a practicing brewer in his adopted city. Within two weeks of his landing, Frederick took a job with Sebastian Sommers, who operated a small brewhouse on Broadway, between 18th and 19th Streets. Frederick obviously enjoyed both his job and life in America, and the next year his younger brother, Maximilian, decided to make the arduous trip across the Atlantic also. He arrived in June of 1839 and brought with him a formula for lager, a type of beer popular in Germany but unheard of in the United States. The brothers dreamed, and planned, and saved - and in the late summer of 1842 they were able to buy the small brewery from Sommers. The official, and historic, starting date was September, 1842.

In 1981, the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company was purchased by the Stroh Brewery Company. In 1999, the Stroh Brewery Company was in turn bought by the Pabst Brewing Company which continues to sell Schaefer Beer today.

This medal measures 76mm (3in) in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1941-046

The uniface medal bears head of English Cocker Spaniel emrging from right edge, facing left. Around, ENGLISH · COCKER · SPANIEL · CLUB · OF · AMERICA

The club was founded on June 20, 1936 and incorporated on February 15, 1945. Today, it is a member of the American Kennel Club.

The circular medals measures 70.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1942-003

The medal's obverse bears eagle gripping in its talons a wreath of thistles. Around, MATHIESON / CHEMICALS

The reverse bears chemical plant with silos and smokestacks. Around edge, THE MATHIESON ALKALI WORKS / MANUFACTURERS OF CHEMICALS; around inner field, RESEARCH · QUALITY · SERVICE; under factory, CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS / OF SERVICE TO AMERICAN / INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC / HEALTH / 1892 - 1942

The medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in Bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1942-017

The obverse bears elephant feeding on sapling gripped in its trunk. To right, AFRICA

The reverse bears water hole with zebras and warthog drinking, gnu walking away at right. Above, WATER HOLE; at lower right, A.H.H. ©

Huntington had already achieved fame for her equestrian and animal sculptures when she completed this medal for the Society of Medalists. She picked an animal wildlife subject and executed it beautifully.

This medal was chosen as the 27th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1943. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 747 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-027, Marqusee 207, SoM 27

References:   MACo 1930-001-028, SoM 28, Marqusee 350

The medal's obverse bears bust of Salvage facing right. Around top, · SAMUEL · AGAR · SALVAGE ·

The reverse bears crown at top, feather at bottom. Flanked by female figure holding what appears to be oil lamp at left and male figure holding chemical reaction vessels at right, DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / (empty cartouche) / · AMERICAN · VISCOSE · / · CORPORATION · ; signed PM over tip of feather.

Samuel Agar Salvage (1876-1946) was an English businessman, sometimes called the "father of the rayon industry in the United States."

Salvage was born in London and emigrated to the United States in 1893 at age 17. In 1925, he became the president of The Viscose Company and was later chairman of the board. In 1942, he was knighted (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to the rayon industry.

The circular medal measures 38mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1943-019

The obverse bears herm-type male bust facing upward against massive stylized wings. Around, ALL - PASSES ART ALONE ENDURING STAYS TO US; in lower left field, THE BUST / OUTLASTS / THE / THRONE; in exergue, THE COIN TIBERIUS; at left, incuse, R.H.RECCHIA / ©

The reverse bears nude youth leaping with outstretched arms into starry sky; hills clouds, and rays in background. Around, TOO LOW THEY BUILD WHO - BUILD BENEATH THE STARS

This medal is one of the two war-time SOM medals that were originally struck in silver because copper was largely dedicated to war needs. Apparently, 57 50mm-diameter pieces were struck in bronze but even long-time collectors have not seen any. Some were later struck in the 1970's.

Recchia drew his own inspiration for this medal from poetry, namely Austin Dobson's "Ars Victrix' for the quotes on the obverse and Edward Young's "Night Thoughts" on the reverse. Recchia wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The bust ... shows the man's mind stretching upwards, to and beyond the flight of the wings of imagination and passing time and depicting man's dreams of seeking higher realms of inspiration."

Recchia's combined message was devoid of war-time propaganda and very humanistic at its core. Or maybe the very fact that it was so humanistic made it a very effective war-time message for an audience that was fighting for the survival of western civilization.

On a personal note, this is the medal that inspired me to become a medal collector when I first saw it on display at the Yale University Art Gallery. To this day, it remains one of my favorite art medals.

This medal was chosen as the 29th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1944. It was first produced in 50mm and was struck in silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. OVerall, the reported production quantity of this medal is 891 small-diameter silver, 57 small-diameter bronze, 150 large-diameter bronze, and 100 large-diameter silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-029, Marqusee 329, SoM 29

The obverse bears "High Iron" workers on a steel beam dangling from a crane. To left, RIGGERS; on steel beam circled MY monogram.

The reverse bears two steel workers riveting a vertical beam while a third heats the rivets. Below, RIVETERS, signed MAHONRI YOUNG / ©.

Young had been sketching and modeling laborers and workers since his early days in Paris. The unsentimental depiction of manual labor was one of his passions, so it should not have surprised anyone that he chose constructions workers as the subject of his Society of Medalists contribution. He modeled no fewer than three designs for selection by the committee.He had observed the transformation of New York from old brownstone houses to skyscrapers when he lived in New York City in 1912.

This medal was chosen as the 30th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1944. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported production quantity is 713 pieces in bronze.

References:   MACo 1930-001-030, Marqusee 413,414, SoM 30

The uniface medal bears globe surrounded by clouds af right, sun with caduceus at left. Around, · A CENTURY OF SERVICE - TO DENTISTRY /1844 (SWS logo) 1944 - STERLING; signed on bottom clouds, R CHAMBELLAN Sc

SWS Dental was a supplier of quality medical instruments that was founded in 1844.

The circular uniface medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in Sterling silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Like many other corporate medals by Chambellan, it comes mounted on a wooden paperweight. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-031, Marqusee 109, SoM 31