Medallic Art Company

References:   BG 16

The medal's obverse bears technician at control station in midst of gigantic turbine wheels and gears.

The reverse bears Westinghouse W logo in center field. Around, CHARLOTTE TURBINE (lighning bolt) GENERATOR PLANT / 1969 - CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF QUALITY - 1989

I am partial to well-down technical designs and I really like this medal's obverse. It is nice to see a corporate commemorative from this period that went beyond the "logo and motto" design.

Any information on the artist would be deeply appreciated.

References:   BG 17

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles Darwin, facing left.

The reverse bears giant tortoise.

Charles Darwin was the 119th issue in the prestigious Society of Medalists series. Moss was the first non-American sculptor to be admitted into the ranks of Society of Medalists medalists.

According to Moss, the creation of this medal began in 1982 and was inspired by the anniversary of Charles Darwin's voyage aboard HMS Beagle. Moss first crafted the Darwin portrait in clay with "an earthy fossil-like character, and then when I made a cast in plaster the relief took on a bony quality." She was fascinated by the Giant Tortoise and its relation to Darwin. Moss wanted her medal to portray the strength in both man and beast. The result was a bold contrast between a crude and unfinished-looking portrait and a polished tortoise on finished field.

The medal measures 55mm x 73mm and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. The edition was limited to 2,500 pieces but the actual mintage is unknown.

References:   MACo 1930-001-119, SoM 119

The medal's obverse bears dramatic scene of fighting stallions. Signed at lower right, (JOV monogram)

References:   MACo 1988-251, Cal MA-1989

References:   BG 18

References:   MACo 1989-329, Cal MA-1990

References:   SoM 121

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:   BG 19