Medallic Art Company

The medal's obverse combines view of Statue of Liberty in foreground with American Express' office building and rising sun with bold ray pattern in background, ocean with tug in-between.  Around left side, AMERICAN EXPRESS PLAZA; at bottom, 1975; signed near pedestal of Statue of Liberty, JDL

The reverse bears three older headquarters buildings, each labeled with a date, 1858, 1874 and 1917. Around top, AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY / 1850 - 1975; signed above exergue at left, JDL SC

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1971-013-018, WR 18

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, 1975

This was the very first medal issued by the Medallic Art Company in its annual calendar medal series. Interestingly, this medal's obverse was reused in 1991 for the seventeenth calendar medal in the series (this does not count the alternate medal in 1983).

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in what appears to be pewter or nickle silver.  I am sure it was also struck in bronze and probably in silver but I have not personally encountered those variants yet. Confirmation and physical characteristics of these variants would be welcome.

References:   MACo 1974-121, Cal MA-1975

References:   MACo 1975-009

The medal's obverse bears beautiful rendition of Aesculap's staff with wings at top and snake curled over staff. Around, NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE / CHARTERED 1860

The reverse bears legend over stylized wreath: Presented by / The Alumni Association / and / The Parents' Council / of / New York Medical College / Class of 1975

There is a second medal that is almost identical and differs only in that it names the class of 1976 instead of the class of 1975.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1975-014-001

The obverse bears bust of Theodosia Burr Alston, l. Above and below, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS; on left, THEODOSIA / BURR / ALSTON; on right, 1783 / 1813 / (RAW monogram)

This was the third of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1975.

The reverse bears wreath held on left and right by two winged putte. Above, BORN / IN ALBANY / NEW YORK; below, LOST / AT SEA; inside wreath, MARRIED / TO / JOSEPH ALSTON / IN 1801 / HIS PLANTATION / "THE OAKS" / IS NOW A PART OF / BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 3

The medal's obverse bears bust of Robert Fletcher, facing. Around top, ROBERT FLETCHER AWARD; below bust, DIRECTOR / THAYER SCHOOL OF / ENGINEERING / 1871 - 1918; around bottom, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE; signed under truncation, JOHN CALABRO / SC.

The medal's reverse bears wreath with inscribed FOR / DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / AND / SERVICE

Robert Fletcher (1847-1936) was a larger than life figure at Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering.  He was the engineering school's first professor and, by the time he retired in 1918, had taught at Dartmouth for 65 years and led the Engineering School as Dean for 47 years.

References:   MACo 1975-032

This medal's obverse bears muscular male figure standing in water, holding back two horses with outstretched arms; clouds and lightning in background.  Around, COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION OF LIBBY DAM / KOOTENAI RIVER MONTANA - AUGUST 24, 1975; signed over water at right, WEIN, Sc.

The reverse bears two jumping fish above conjoined American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf. Above, CONSTRUCTED BY THE / U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS / UNDER THE COUMBIA RIVER TREATY / BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES / AND CANADA

This is a really handsome medal that is somewhat reminiscent of much earlier art deco medals.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut.

References:   MACo 1975-152

The medal's obverse bears female angel in flight, reaching for a star in the firmament. Signed at bottom, B. LUCCHESI

The reverse bears two hands holding an eight-pointed star. Across, Christmas / 1975; at right bottom, © MACO / 1975

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver bu the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1975-164

The medal's obverse bears Americans from colonial to modern times walking, riding, and driving around the circumference, with some airplanes mixed in for good measure. In raised circular center, the American Bicentennial logo surrounded by AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL / 1776 - 1976; signed with artist's (JOV monogram) at top right; at lower right, MACO / © 1975

The reverse bears square calendar panel in center, flanked by the PHiladelphia Christ Church steeple on the left and a launching Saturn V rocket on the right; Eagle holding streamer with THE / BICENTENNIAL / YEAR in its beak on top, Paul Revere on horseback at the bottom; at left bottom of calendar panel, 1976.

The American Bicentennial was a huge marketing extravaganza that caused a multitude of medals to be issued.   Marcel Jovine created a thematically appropripate design in his inimitable circular style. 

This is one of the few Calendar medals that were issued in different sizes.  A limited edition 3.75" medallion was offered to collectors in addtion to the normal 3" medal.  I am not aware of any medals in silver though I would not be terribly surprised to find out that a few had been struck.  The 1970s were a time of sky-high silver prices and 3" silver medals would have represented a significant investment.

References:   MACo 1975-134, Cal MA-1976