Tiffany & Co.

The medal's obverse bears a vague design of rocks and a female figure rising above them in a swirl of clouds. Signed at bottom left, (GB monogram)

The reverse bears legend and small branches of oak and laurel. Around, DAVID LIVINGSTONE CENTENARY; in center field, FOUNDED 1913 / BY / THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA / UPON THE OCCASION OF / THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE BIRTH OF / DAVID LIVINGSTONE / TO BE AWARDED BY / THE AMERICAN GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY / OF NEW YORK / FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF / GEOGRAPHY / IN THE / SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE; in cartouche around bottom, MANUEL VINCENTE BALLIVIAN 1917

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze by Tiffany & Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

Images are courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References:   Baxter 251

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Vail, facing. Around, on raised rim, THEODORE NEWTON VAIL / HE MADE NEIGHBORS OF HVNDRED MILLION PEOPLE; signed, barely visibly, over right shoulder, LUINI

The reverse bears old-fashioned phone receivers connected by wires on raised rim. In center field, PRESENTED · BY · THE / AMERICAN · TELEPHONE · AND / TELEGRAPH · CO · TO · THE · TELEPHONE / PIONEERS · OF · AMERICA · AS · A / MEMORIAL · TO · HIM · WHOSE · LIFE / CHARACTER · AND · INDUSTRY · WERE / AN · INSPIRATION · TO · THE / MEMBERS · OF · THAT · SOCIETY / MONTREAL (oak leaves) CANADA / SEPTEMBER · 10 · 1920

This is the first version of the Theodore Newton Vail medal. It was delineated by Harry Bates Thayer, company president, honoring famed American telephone pioneer and company founder Theodore Newton Vail.  The medal was only issued for the four years between 1917 and 1920.  Adolph A. Weinman designed and modeled the later version of the medal that was used from 1922 onwards.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany & Co. of New York. No mintage is reported. The medal probably exists in at least silver, probably even a few pieces in gold, but I have not seen any evidence of those variants.

The medal's obverse bears female kneeling in field with her hands in the earth, spatula stuckin ground next to her; column of soldiers marching from left to right in background. Across, UNITES / STATES - OF / AMERICA

The medal's reverse bears full basket of vegetables with carrot and pumpkins lying next to it. Around top, NATIONAL · WAR · GARDEN · COMMISSION; in extergue, crossed rifle and hoe; across, THE SEEDS OF VICTORY / INSURE THE FRUITS OF PEACE / 1914 - 1919; signed at lower right, TIFFANY Co

War Gardens were the brain child of Charles Lathrop Pack. He came up with the idea in March 1917 (before the US entered the war) to increase the food supply without increasing the “use of land already cultivated, of labor already engaged in agricultural work, of time devoted to other necessary occupations, and of transportation facilities which were already inadequate to the demands made upon them.”

He organized the National War Garden Commission which included among its members Luther Burbank, representatives of several major universities, and the president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The commission publicized the gardens with pamphlets, printed material for newspaper distribution, and colorful, propagandist posters.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany & Co. of New York.

Many thanks to Ben Burnham for granting me permission to use the images from his eBay store.

The medal's obverse bears horse-drawn fire wagon racing down a street from right to left. In exergue, FIRE DEPARTMENT / CITY OF NEW YORK

The reverse shows the fire department's coat of arms in oval field, flanked by sprigs of laurel and oak. Around, THE JOHN H. PRENTICE MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR VALOR ·; across, AWARDED TO / WILLIAM M. J. YATES / FIREMAN 1ST GRADE H. & L. CO. No. 4 / 1934; signed at bottom, TIFFANY & CO

This rare medal has been awarded since 1920 for acts of valor by New York City fire fighters. I could not find out much about either Mrs. Prentice or Yates.  Mr. Prentice seems to have been a Brooklyn official. I would love to document Mr. Yates' act of valor that caused him to receive this medal. Maybe someone with connections to the FDNY can help out with information.

My medal has been pretty badly abused. In addition to the gouges, scratches, and nicks, it also had its loop removed.  Normally, the medal is looped and worn on a ribbon.

The circular medal measures 49mm in diameter and was struck in 14kt gold by Tiffany & Co. of New York City.

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

References:   Baxter 184, Marqusee 394

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Patrick Cardinal Hayes facing three quarters left. Around, + PATRICK · CARDINAL · HAYES + / APRIL · 30 · 1924

The medal's reverse bears the coat of arms of the diocese of New York. Around, + CONGRATULATORY · BANQUET + / CATHOLIC CLUB; signed TIFFANY & CO.

Patrick Joseph Hayes (1867-1938) was born in Manhattan as the son of poor Irish immigrants. He rose quickly through the church hierarchy and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by pope Pius XI on March 24th, 1924.

This medal was issued as a commemorative of an April 30th dinner held by the Catholic Club of New York to celebrate the occasion.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany and Co. of New York. No mintage is reported.

The obverse shows a kneeling miner holding a chunk of ore and a pickaxe. Around, THE BERWIND WHITE COAL MINING CO 50TH ANNIVERSARY;

The reverse bears two square panels, the left one showing a steamship, the right one a factory with freight train in front. Banners above and below, reading EUREKA and 1886 - 1936; signed at bottom TIFFANY & CO.

The Berwind White Coal Mining Company was started as a partnership between Edward Julius Berwind, Charles Berwind, and Congressman Allison White. At the beginning of the 20th centry the company was one of the largest producers of coal. In 1962 the family corporation diversified into other industries and seems to have done very well; by 2007 its real estate holdings alone were estimated to be worth $3 billion.

The circular medal measures 81.3mm in diameter and was struck by Tiffany & Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   Marqusee 375

References:   MACo 1949-016