Medallic Art Company

The medal's obverse bears a flaming torch of leadership, a sword of valor and a laurel wreath of peace; On circumference, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY / SESQUICENTENNIAL; across, 1802 / 1952 / ©

The reverse shows a spread eagle below a rising sun standing on a shield, clutching arrows, and an inscribed ribbon with legend DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY / WEST POINT / MDCCCII / USMA. A battle helmet of military service with the rod of authority are superimposed on the shield. On circumference, WEST POINT / DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY.

This medal was commissioned for the anniversary celebration and distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and civic groups for several years thereafter.

Laura Gardin Fraser maintained a long and productive relationship with Westpoint. In addition to this medal she designed West Point's Sylvanus Thayer medal in 1957 and. Finally, just before her death, she completed the American History bronze panels at the new library of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She had started working on them in 1935, "for love of country" as she said. Her patience was rewarded in 1964 when the panels were cast in bronze and installed at West Point.

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1951-020

The medal's obverse bears rising sun behind long distance view of old Pittsburgh with three rivers and wooded hills in foreground.  Around top, (sixteen stars) / SCAIFE COMPANY / FOUNDED 1802 PITTSBURGH

The reverse bears view of modern Pittsburgh with bridges and skyscrapers in upper half.  in lower half, towering machine with worker at left and welder at right. Around, PITTSBURGH'S OLDEST MANUFACTURING FIRM / 1802 (S logo in circle) 1952; in exergue, ONE HUNDRED / AND FIFTY YEARS / OF DISTINGUISHED / SERVICE (acorn) (acorn) TO / COMMERCE AND / INDUSTRY (acorn) (acorn) (acorn); signed and dated at right over exergue, AMORE 52

The circular medal measures 75.9mm in dameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1952-053

The obverse bears lightly draped man clasping hand of nude man holding olive branch. Around, TO BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR / BRETHREN / TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY; between heads, PSALM 133; below right figure, © P.D.

The reverse bears a plow over an olive spray. Around, THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS / INTO PLOUGHSHARES; to left, © P D

This medal was chosen as the 48th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1953. Peter Dalton stated in his message "From the Artist":

"With the survival of the world so dependent on peaceful means, the verse from the 133rd Psalm seems to take on added significance."

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company which struck 657 pieces in bronze and an unknown number of pieces in silver (from a limited edition of 700).

References:   MACo 1930-001-048, SoM 48

The medal's obverse bears brown trout taking a wet fly shown with V-shaped wake.

The reverse bears a "Parmachene Belle" fishing fly. Signed at lower left, (GP monogram) / ©

This medal was selected as the 47th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1953. After "Boy Fishing", this was the second fishing-themed medal in the series. As the artist wrote in his lengthy comments accompanying the medal:

"Protagonists of the dry fly and the wet fly will still be giving one another an argument on the day of judgement. To be perfectly unbiased, this medal caters to both."

Apparently both sides liked the medal and it was universally well received by the membership.

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. The mintage is reported as 834 pieces in bronze and an unknown number of pieces in silver (from a limited edition of 700).

References:   MACo 1930-001-47, SoM 47

The medal's obverse bears two male golf players shaking hands over a hole, globe centered on North America in background. In exergue, CANADA CUP; signed above exergue at feet of right player, R·A·W

The medal's reverse bears wreath with streamers. Around, INTERNATIONAL GOLF TROPHY / TEAM MEMBER / PRESENTED BY / JOHN JAY HOPKINS

John Jay Hopkins (1893-1957) was the founder and first president of General Dynamics.  He created the golf World Cup, which began as the Canada Cup in 1953.  He also donated the trophy for the event.

References:   MACo 1953-031

The medal's obverse bears bearded Socrates, facing left, discussing philosphy with three disciples, facing right. Around, SOCRATES DISCUSSING WITH HIS DISCIPLES; signed at lower right, (IM monogram)

The reverse bears bearded Plato writing on tablet in his lap; muse to his right. Around, THE PHILOSOPHER IN THE GRIP OF INSPIRATION; signed at lower right, (IM monogram) / C

This medal was chosen as the 50th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The original models bore no legend.  The Society's advisory board loved the design but, at the urging of Paul Manship, the legends were added.

While SoM medals usually exhibit very high relief, this medal is unlike any other in the series.  The relief is flat, and the design quite sparse. It's more like a sketch than like a fully worked bas-relief.  Nevertheless, through the thoughtful application of tan patina, the medal gains depth and is quite stunning in its simplicity.

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.  The mintage was reported as 690 pieces in bronze. The number of silver pieces is not known but the edition was limited to 700.

References:   MACo 1930-001-050, SoM 50

The medal's obverse bears seal of Ohio University. Around conjoined busts of Putnam and Cutler, RELIGIO · DOCTRINA · CIVILITAS · PRAE OMNIBUS - VIRTUS /  ·  ·  · RUFUS PUTNAM ·  ·  · MANASSEH CUTLER ·  ·  ·; around, SIGILLUM UNIVERSITATIS OHIENSIS - MDCCCIV

The reverse bears view of Cutler Tower. Around, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS / 1804 ·  ·  · 1954; across, OHIO / UNIVERSITY / SESQUICENTENNIAL / CUTLER / TOWER; signed above exergue, D. MUCHLER

The medal measures 70.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1954-014

The medal's obverse bears angler standing in stream, facing right, fishing rod raised high in one hand, other arm extended down to net hooked trout. Around, THE ANGLERS' CLUB OF NEW YORK / HONOR - MEDAL

The reverse bears brook trout going for fly. Across, FOR / OUTSTANDING / SERVICE IN / THE FIELDS OF / CONSERVATION / ICHTYOLOGY / THE / SPORT / OF / ANGLING

The Anglers' Club of New York appears to have been founded in 1905.  It is an exclusive social club whose members are united by their love of fly fishing.  Membership is strictly capped and by invitation only. One story I found recounted an obituary stating that the deceased had spent three decades on the waiting list for club membership.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for making this medal available to me for research.

References:   MACo 1954-066

The medal's obverse bears stylized compass rose and Greek cross dividing the heads of European (NW), Asian (NE), American Indian (SW), and African (SE). Around, PROCLAIMING LIBERTY EVERY ONE TO HIS BROTHER

The reverse bears a northern polar projection of the world map, resembling the UN emblem. Around, NO MAN IS AN ISLAND ENTIRE OF ITSELF - EVERY MAN IS A PIECE OF THE CONTINENT; at left, JOHN DONNE 1575-1631; at right, © M.H.

Malvina Hoffman traveled the globe for several years to create a display for the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-34. The plan was to make precise sculptures of all "The Races of Mankind." Malvina Hoffman ended up casting 97 bronze sculptures for the exhibit, which remained a major attraction for the Field Museum for many decades.

This design by Hoffman was chosen as the 51st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series and picked up on her earlier work. She wrote in her "From the Artist"

"The thought prompting the design and quotations on this medal is the ever timely problem: how the races of the world can learn to understand one another."

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 722 pieces in bronze. The number of pieces in silver is not reported but the edition was limited to 700.

References:   MACo 1930-001-051, SoM 51