Medallic Art Company

The medal's obverse bears 12 disks with the signs of the zodiac surrounding central disk with sun.

The reverse bears calendar surrounded by four scantily clad maidens, possibly nymphs, with cornucopia, sun, grapes, and tree.  At left bottom, 1978; signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in various metals by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported and I am only speculating that there was a silver variant.  The edition limit for the gold-plated bronze medals was 1,000.

References:   MACo 1977-107, Cal MA-1978

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

References:   BG 6

The medal's obverse bears Ford logo under nine stars. Around bottom, 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The reverse bears early motor carriage in front of first company building. Around, DIAMOND JUBILEE / 1903 (star) 1978

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

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles "Chuck" Yeager, facing. To his left, "Only / the Best"; Around, MARSHALL UNIVERSITY / SOCIETY OF YEAGER SCHOLARS; signed on shoulder at right, (GG monogram)

The reverse bears the seal of the university. Around, SIGILLUM UNIVERSITATIS MARSHALLENSIS / (star) 1837 (star)

The Society of Yeager Scholars is named for U.S. Air Force Brigadier General (Ret.) Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, who is a native of Lincoln County, W.Va. In October 1947, Yeager became the first supersonic pilot by breaking the sound barrier in a Bell X-1 experimental aircraft in California. 

Marshall Scholars undergo an extended competition, involving a challenging written application and two interviews -- one by telephone and one by a panel of interviewers on the Huntington campus of Marshall University. The final selection is made by university faculty and staff, university alumni, Society of Yeager Scholars board members and community members.

References:   BG 7

The medal's obverse bears compass rose dividing medal into four segments, each of which contains a different tall ship; waves around. Bottom left segment contains elaborate "Oceanus" and artists (JOV monogram) / © signature.

The reverse bears calendar panel surrounded by hippocamus, sea horses and sea shell. In sea shell, 1979

The ships depicted all have significance in American history. They are the Santa Maria, one of the ships that brought Columbus to the New World; the Mayflower, one of the ships which brought the first Pilgrims to America; the Constitution, the oldest active service navy ship in the world; and a Clipper ship, representative of the China trade fleet that generated so much wealth.

This is the fourth issue and in the Medallic Art Company's calendar medal series.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver, and gold-plated bronze.  No mintages are reported.

The edition limits of the silver and gold-plated variants are also not known to me at this point but based on the fact that the medals are marked with three digit serial numbers I would judge it to be 700 or fewer.

References:   MACo 1978-075, Cal MA-1979

The medal's obverse bears eight segments depicting scenes from different olympic winter sport events, surrounding center field with Lake Placid Olympics symbol and XIII OLYMPIC / WINTER / GAMES / LAKE / PLACID / 1980; signed at right, © (JOV monogram)

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by two olympic torches. Pine cones and 1980 at top.

The circular medal measures approximately 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in various materials. No mintages are reported and I am speculating on the existence of a silver variant. The fourth variant bears both MACO and SPORRONG on the edge and weighs significantly more than the very similar third variant. Was is produced to spec for the Scandinavian Sporrong Mint or maybe in license by the Sporrong Mint? Any additional information would be appreciated.

References:   MACo 1979-080, Cal MA-1980