Whitehead & Hoag

The medal's obverse bears view ov bridge with Springfield city buildings in background. At bottom, AUGUST 3 1922; signed atlower right, NEWMAN

The reverse bears laurel wreath. In center field, FROM THE / PIONEERS DOWN / THROUGH THE / WORLD WAR / LOVE OF FREEDOM / LINKED THE / GENERATIONS; around, HAMPDEN COUNTY MEMORIAL BRIDGE

In 1915, the Hampden County Commissioners opened hearings to discuss construction of a new bridge, but it wasn't until the winter of 1918/19 that the location and overall design of the present concrete arch bridge were finally agreed upon. The completed bridge was opened to traffic on August 3, 1922. At the ceremonies held that day, the bridge was dedicated as a memorial to "those who had died as pioneers, and soldiers in the Revolutionary, Civil and Foreign Wars."

The circular medal was struck by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Abraham Lincoln, facing right. To his left, torch. At left, 1809 / 1865; around right, LINCOLN. Signed under torch at left, © DOUGLAS VOLK / DEL. / CHAS. L. HINTON · / Sc.

The reverse bears oak wreath around center field. At top of center field, LINCOLN / · ESSAY · MEDAL ·  / · AWARDED · TO ·

Douglas Volk created a Lincoln portrait that shows him gaunt, almost skeletally thin, a sad resolve readiating from his expression. Hinton translated the design into a beautiful medal.

This medal is cataloged as King 892.  A variant with a date of February 12, 1924 exists and is cataloged as King 891.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

References:   Marqusee 203

References:   Marqusee 223

The medal's obverse bears medallic rendition of John Trumbull's painting "The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill," showing General Warren on the ground, held by a fellow Colonial, with British troops closing in from the right. Around top, BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL; at bottom, 1775.

The reverse bears view of the Bunker Hill memorial obelisk. To its left, TO / COMMEMORATE / THE / 150TH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE / BATTLE OF / BUNKER HILL / 1775 - 1925; signed around lower left, KILENYI

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17th, 1775. Two days earlier, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to send troops out from the city to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, which would give them control of Boston Harbor. In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. During the night, the colonists constructed a strong redoubt on Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula.

By daybreak of June 17, the British became aware of the presence of colonial forces on the Peninsula and mounted an attack against them that day. Two assaults on the colonial positions were repulsed with significant British casualties; the third and final attack carried the redoubt after the defenders ran out of ammunition. The colonists retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula.

While the British won the battle, they lost over a thousand men, more than 100 of them officers. General Clinton, echoing Pyrrhus of Epirus, remarked in his diary that "A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America."

My instance of the medal is dedicated on the edge to the colorful Boston mayor James Michael Curley. I don't know whether all instances are thus marked or whether my instance was Curley's personal medal.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears female figure, facing right, lightly resting arm on back of doe while holding down tree branch so doe can reach it. Around, THE · MASSACHUSETTS · SOCIETY · FOR · THE · PREVENTION · OF · CRUELTY · TO · ANIMALS; at left, KINDNESS / IS THE GREAT / VIRTUE · ;to right, · TO LOVE / BEAUTY IS TO / DRAW · NEAR / TO GOD · ; in exergue, MEDAL · OF · AWARD; signed at lower right, RAYMOND / PORTER

The reverse bears lit torch at top and laurel wreath around. Engraved in center field to HOLMES C. HURLL / APRIL 1928

The Massachusetts Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or MSPCA for short, was founded in 1868. Boston Brahmin lawyer George Thorndike Angell began a high-profile protest of animal cruelty, after reading about two horses being raced to death by carrying two riders each over forty miles of rough roads. He joined with Emily Appleton, a Boston socialite and animal lover who provided financial support. They and 1,200 others formed the MSPCA. Among distinguished locals on the first board of directors were John Quincy Adams II, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Saltonstall, and William Gordon Weld.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The plaquette's obverse bears bust of Josiah K. Lilly facing right. Below, signature J. K. Lilly; signed in bottom right corner, KILENYI.

The plaquette's reverse bears 13-line inscription, 1876 / COMMEMORATING / THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE FOUNDING OF / ELI LILLY AND COMPANY / AND / THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE CONNECTION WITH / THE COMPANY OF / JOSIAH KIRBY LILLY / ITS / BELOVED PRESIDENT / 1926

Josiah K. Lilly Sr. (1861-1948) started working at Eli Lilly and Co., the company his father had founded, when he was 14 years old, eventually becoming chairman of the board.

The medal's obverse bears view of Connecticut building at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia.Around top, CONNECTICUT STATE BUILDING; in exergue, SESQUI-CENTENNIAL / PHILADELPHIA / 1776 (bell) 1926

The reverse bears statue of Nathan Hale at left, decorated shield with Connecticut coat of arms at top right. Across, "I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE / BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR / MY COUNTRY" / NATHAN HALE / PATRIOT-MARTYR / CONNECTICUT / 1755 / 1776; at left edge,in tiny letters, WHITEHEAD-HOAG

Nathan Hale (1755-1776) was an American soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British and executed. Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut.

The circular medal measures 28.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery's Numismatics Department for their support and assistance in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   HK 456