The John E. Marqusee Collection - Medals

Silver-plated bronze

Description

The reverse bears a stylized piston and laurels. In uppper right quadrant, 2-line legend around edge, COMMEMORATING / THE TWENTYFIFTH; in lower left quadrant, 2-line legend around edge, ANNIVERSARY OF / GENERAL MOTORS - 1908 - 1933.

This iconic machine-age medal is a perfect example of the Streamlined style that dominated architecture and design in America from the late 1920s to the end of the 1930s. It was designed by Norman Bel Geddes but sculpted by Rene Paul Chambellan. Its main variant was commissioned by General Motors to be distributed during its 25th Anniversary celebrations and at the 1933 Chicago World Fair of Progress.

The General Motors romance brochure that accompanied some medals included the following words about the design:

"The face of the medal shows a speeding automotive body behind which a wing rises perpendicularly. Since the medal is to be used as an award in future years and the car of the future is merely a guess, this car is an abstract streamline form without doors or windows. The conventionalized wing symbolizes General Motors interest in air transportation. The wing being static; the car, by contrast, seems to move more swiftly ... The reverse of the medal shows a combustion chamber ... since it is the heart of the motor. It too has been conventionalized."

The medal was manufactured in different variants. The relatively common ones measure 76mm in diameter and are struck in bronze or silver-plated bronze. The medal is most commonly encountered in its large silver-plated form. The bronze and the smaller 38mm and 29mm variants are much less common. The smallest was inscribed across the reverse G.M. - MENS / CLUB and only given to GM executives. In the thirties it was of course a fairly safe bet that executive positions would be limited to men. A mounted plaque version measuring 9 inches in diameter was given to some dealers in the 1950s.

Completely intact silver-plated variants are hard to come by; the silver layer did not stand the test of time on most pieces and it is almost unheard of to see one without at least rubbing on high points.

Just as the design is unmistakably Bel Geddes, the execution is unmistakably Chambellan. Before I knew that it was a Bel Geddes, I would have guessed it to be a Chambellan based on its lettering alone.

The medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References: MACo 1933-024, Marqusee 53

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 6 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Silver-plated bronze
edge	plain
diameter	76mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver-plated bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO N.Y.
diameter	76mm
mintage	unknown

material	Bronze
patina	Golden bronze with olive patina
edge	plain
diameter	76mm
mintage	unknown

material	Bronze
patina	Golden bronze
edge6	© MEDALLIC ART CO N.Y. - BRONZE
diameter	76mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver-plated bronze
edge	unknown
diameter	38mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver-plated bronze
edge	plain
diameter	29mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:19

Silver

Description

The obverse bears nude male from behind, studying a portrait held in outstretched arm. In right field, FOVNDED / IN / NEW YORK / MDCCCLVIII; in left field, signed G.B.

The reverse bears two wreaths, one of oak branches above and one of laurel below. In center, THE / AMERICAN / NVMISMATIC / SOCIETY / PARVA-NE-PERANT / MEMBER'S MEDAL / 1910; signed G.B.

This medal was the 27th official issue of the American Numismatic Society. This version corrected the spelling error on the reverse die ("perant" instead of "pereant") and added an apostrophe to "members" but is otherwise identical to the previous version.

The circular medal measures 77mm in diameter and was struck by Tiffany & Company and the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is unknown for gold, silver, and bronze editions.

References: ANS 27, Baxter 248, Marqusee 54

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 3 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	77mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver
edge6	TIFFANY & CO / MAKERS STERLING (M mark)
diameter	77mm
weight	126.3g
mintage	unknown

material	Gold
edge6
diameter	77mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 15:49

Bronze

Description

The obverse bears half figure of Vespucci, half right, head right, holding a partially unrolled map ; to the right is a map of the New World, taken from the then recently discovered map of Martin Waldseemüller. Between bust and map at lower right, 19 (ANS seal) 03 / AMERIGO VESPVCCI; signed along lower right, V.D.Brenner.

The reverse bears a small hemispherical map inserted in the famous Waldseemüller wall map of 1507 on the left side; on the right Vespucci is holding dividers above facsimile signature of Waldseemüller. Signed in lower left of field, V.D.Brenner

Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was an Italian explorer, financier, navigator and cartographer who first demonstrated that Brazil and the West Indies did not represent Asia's eastern outskirts as initially conjectured from Columbus' voyages, but instead constituted an entirely separate landmass hitherto unknown to people of the Old World.

This is the 15th medal issued by the American Numismatic Society. The rectangular plaque measures 76mm x 58mm. The reported mintage for this medal is 1 piece in gold, 101 in silver, 59 in bronze and 1 in copper.

References: ANS 15, Baxter 125, Marqusee 65

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 4 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Copper
edge6
dimensions	76mm x 58mm
mintage	1 reported

material	Bronze
edge6
dimensions	76mm x 58mm
weight	100.3g
mintage	59 reported

material	Silver
edge6
dimensions	76mm x 58mm
mintage	101 reported

material	Gold
edge6
dimensions	76mm x 58mm
mintage	1 reported

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 15:48

Tan-gold patina

Description

References: Baxter 140, CoF 4, Marqusee 70

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 2 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

patina	Tan-gold patina
edge6	DAVISON PHILA.
edge12	CIRCLE OF FRIENDS 1911
diameter	70mm
weight	144.8g
mintage	unknown

patina	Tan-gold patina
edge6	DAVISON PHILA.
edge12	CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
diameter	70mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:10

Description

The medal's obverse bears bust of Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, facing three quarters right. Around, FREDERICK SAMVEL TALLMADGE / 1824 - 1904; to his left, - / PRESIDENT / NEW YORK SOCIETY / SONS OF THE / REVOLUTION / 1884-1904 / -; to hos right, - / THE PVRCHASE / OF FRAVNCES TAVERN / HIS LAST OFFICIAL ACT / - / HIS WILL GENEROVSLY / PROVIDED MEANS / FOR PAYMENT / -; signed at left, V D Brenner

The reverse bears view of Fraunces Tavern. Around, HERE WASHINGTON BADE FAREWELL TO HIS OFFICERS 4 DECEMBER 1783 / · BECAME THE OWNER 29 JULY 1904 · ; on banner around top, HERE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION ORGANIZED 4 DECEMBER 1883; in exergue, FRAVNCES TAVERN / NEW · YORK

The circular medal measures 65.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References: Marqusee 71

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	65.2mm
weight	128.3g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:18

Description

The plaquette's obverse bears James MacNeill Whistler standing, facing half left, with hand on his hip. To his left, butterfly signature and inscription: JAMES McNEILL WHISTLER / PAINTER ETCHER / AVTHOR; signed at top right, V. D. Brenner

The reverse bears peacock with inscription "MESSIEURS LES ENNEMIS!"; Whistler's butterfly device at bottom right. Signed at top, V.D.Brenner Sc.

James Abbott MacNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was an American painter, etcher, and author. Today he is counted among the great American artists. In his day, he was famous for his temper and for his uncompromising attitude towards art. "Art for art's sake" was a motto he lived by.

The plaquette's obverse depicts Whistler in a pose that indicates barely contained impatience with the portraitist, possibly even disdain.

The reverse references two stories from Whistler's life. The peacock is a reference to a commission he had received from Frederick Leyland to decorate a dining room. Rather than making the minor changes his patron had expected, Whistler refinished the entire room, overpainting a 16th century Cordoba leather wall for which Leyland had paid £1,000. When Leyland balked at the cost and the scope of the work, Whistler included him in the design as a peacock with gold on his body and at his feet. He also later painted him, depicting him as an anthropomorhic peacock playing the piano and titled the painting "The Gold Scab: Eruption in Frithy Lucre", a pun on Leyland's fondness for frilly shirt fronts.

The quote relates to Whistler's bitter autobiography, titled "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies." Whistler had earlier pursued a libel suit against an art critic.While he won the suit, he was not awarded the damages he had sought and the legal costs combined with his already precarious finances to drive him into bankruptcy. All his paintings were auctioned off and—to add insult to injury—Leyland oversaw their sale.

The rectangular plaquette measures 89.7mm x 65.4mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

Gorham later manufactured a cast bronze plaque from Brenner's model.

References: Baxter 127, Marqusee 75

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
dimensions	89.7mm x 65.4mm
weight	178.8g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:28

Bronze

Description

The obverse bears bust of Jones, three quarters left in front of laurel branch; to left, shield with anchor. In panel at bottom, JOHN · PAVL · JONES / · 1747 · 1792 · ; signed along left edge, V. D. Brenner

The reverse depicts winged Fame blowing a trumpet at right; in upper background, a funeral procession proceeds from left to right. Above, AMERICA · CLAIMS · HER · ILLVSTRIOVS · DEAD; below, · PARIS · ANNAPOLIS · 1905 · ; (ANS seal) at bottom left.

This is the 16th medal issued by the American Numismatic Society.

The rectangular plaque measures 80mm x 60mm and was struck by the Paris Mint. The reported mintage for this medal is 1 piece in gold, and 100 each in silver and bronze.

Images of the bronze plaquette courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References: ANS 16, Baxter 128, Marqusee 77

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 3 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
dimensions	80mm x 60mm
mintage	100 reported

material	Silver
edge6
dimensions	80mm x 60mm
mintage	100 reported

material	Gold
edge6
dimensions	80mm x 60mm
mintage	1 reported

Last modified: Nov 30, 2017 09:59

Description

This uniface medal's obverse bears male figure in work clothes, digging in the earth with a spade, facing right.

According to Smedley, the medal might have been created as an ornament on a flower box, probably reduced from a painting.

The medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. The mintage is not reported.

References: MACo 1931-051, Marqusee 80

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	76.1mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:33

Bronze with brown patina

Description

The obverse bears winged angel of mercy above two seated figures, a female representing poverty with face uplifted at left and a male representing crime, with shackled hand at right. In exergue, · ISSUED · BY · THE · AMERICAN · NUMISMATIC · / · AND · ARCHAEOLOGICAL · SOCIETY · / · NEW · YORK ·; signed at lower right, V D BRENNER 98

The reverse bears an oak tree at right with branches and foliage extending across entire field to left. Over foliage, nineteen-line inscription, · TO · COMMEMORATE · / · THE · SESSION · OF · THE · 25TH · / · NATIONAL · CONFERENCE · OF · / · CHARITIES · AND · CORRECTION · / · IN · THE · CITY · OF · NEW · YORK · / · MAY · 18TH · 25TH · 1898 · / · PRESIDENT · / · WILLIAM · RHINELANDER · STEWART · / · NEW · YORK · / · VICE · PRESIDENTS · / · CHARLES · R · HENDERSON · · THOMAS · E · ELLISON · / · CHICAGO · · FORT WAYNE · / · ISAIAH · JOSEPHI · / · NEW · YORK · / · TREASURER · / · LEVI · L · BARBOUR · DETROIT · / · GENERAL · SECRETARY · / · HASTINGS · H · HART · / · ST. PAUL ·; signed at lower right, V.D.BRENNER

The circular medal measures 77mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver and gold. The reported mintages are 1 gold piece, 30 pieces in silver and 253 pieces in bronze.

References: ANS 12, Baxter 118, Marqusee 85

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 3 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
patina	Bronze with brown patina
edge6
diameter	77mm
mintage	253 reported

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	77mm
weight	149.6g
mintage	30 reported

material	Gold
edge6
diameter	77mm
mintage	1 reported

Last modified: Nov 30, 2017 17:11

Silver

Description

The obverse bears bust of Prince Henry of Prussia, l. Around, ISSVED BY THE AMERICAN NVMISMATIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY / NEW YORK FEBRVARY 1902 ; signed over shoulder to right of bust, V.D.BRENNER

The reverse bears god Mercury riding on a cloud, bearing fruits, flowers and a caduceus; German and American flags to the right. Around, TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE HENRY OF PRVSSIA; signed at 5:00, V.D.BRENNER

In 1902 Prince Henry of Prussia visited the United States to take delivery of a schooner yacht for his brother, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. The yacht was christened Meteor III by Alice Roosevelt on February 25, 1902.

This medal is the 14th official issue of the American Numismatic Society. While the idea for the medal came from the ANS' Edward Dean Adams, Victor David Brenner himself underwrote the issue, accepting all the risk with the exception of the material cost of the four pieces struck in gold. He graciously allowed the ANS to sell as many silver pieces as it could and retain all the profit thereof.

The circular medal measures 69mm in diameter. The mintage is reported as 4 pieces in gold, 301 in silver, 2 in copper and 1 in aluminum.

References: ANS 14, Baxter 123, Marqusee 89

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 4 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Aluminum
edge6
diameter	69.8mm
mintage	1 reported

material	Copper
edge6
diameter	69.8mm
mintage	2 reported

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	69.8mm
weight	155.2g
mintage	301 reported

material	Gold
edge6
diameter	69.8mm
mintage	4 reported

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:48