Society of Medalists

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

References:   MACo 1930-001-052, SoM 52

References:   MACo 1930-001-053, SoM 53

The medal's obverse bears head of of middle-aged, bearded Walt Whitman facing left. Around, OUT OF THE CRADLE ENDLESSLY ROCKING / 1819 WALT WHITMAN 1892; below truncation, P.©F.

The reverse bears singing thrush on flowering lilac. Below, Leaves of Grass / First Publication / 1855.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality.

This medal was chosen as the 54th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1956. It was the second SOM commemorative medal and it was less well received than the first one. Members seemed willing to tolerate an occasional commemorative medal but they were wary of a trend. As one member wrote:

"somewhat disappointed in that it is another commemorative as opposed to strictly artistic subject (abstract, allegorical, etc.)."

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 635 pieces in bronze. The number of silver pieces is not reported but the edition was limited to 700.

References:   MACo 1930-001-54, SoM 54

References:   SoM 69

References:   MACo 1930-001-082, SoM 82

References:   MACo 1930-001-087, SoM 87

The medal's obverse bears Pan playing pipes over a skull. Around, INGENITA LEVITAS (levity is inborn); below, signature JC in a square. The reverse bears a man holding a mirror or mask. Around, ET ERUDITA VANITAS (and vanity is learned); below signature JC in a square.

In the 1980's Cook was slowly drifting towards darker subject matter and the skull on this medal is a precursor of things to come. By 1987 his FIDEM catalog entry stated that "his works represent an exploration into various images and manifestations of death."

In 1982 he was still transitioning and wrote in the medal's brochure:

"This brief couplet from Cicero's Pro Flacco presents a profound opposition of the dionysian and appollonian aspects of man's nature. Being deeply moved both by the wit and the simple beauty employed in the fusing together of thse diverse elements, I have tried in sculptural terms to achieve a like coupling."

This medal was chosen as the 105th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1982. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. The reported mintage is 750 pieces in bronze.

References:   MACo 1930-001-150, SoM 105

References:   MACo 1930-001-107, SoM 107

References:   SoM 115