Robert I Aitken - Medals | Medallic Art Collector

Description

Its obverse bears three young women in classic pose, one with hand covering eyes, one with hand covering mouth and one with hand covering ears. Above, legend SEE NO EVIL / SPEAK NO EVIL / HEAR NO EVIL; below to left, signed AITKEN. The reverse bears the copyright notice COPYRIGHT 1909 BY A.B.TEBBS. PAT.APPD.FOR.

Aitken designed this wall plaque around 1909. The plaque was very popular and was manufactured in various sizes and materials. Reproductions are still being made for Museum Stores today.

This plaque measures 146mm in diameter and is made of a white metal painted in gold. The paint coat on the obverse has mostly come off and remains only as highlights.

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.

edge6
diameter	146mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:52

Gold-plated Bronze

Description

The medal's obverse bears Mercury opening the canal locks for ship Argo. Around, · TO · COMMEMORATE · THE · OPENING · OF · THE · PANAMA · CANAL · M · C · M · X · V; at bottom left, "ON! / SAIL ON!"; signed at bottom right, AITKEN / FECIT

The medal's reverse bears two female figures, representing the two Americas, sharing cornucopias; globe in center, flying birds below. Around, · PANAMA · PACIFIC · INTERNATIONAL · EXPOSITION · SAN · FRANCISCO · CALIFORNIA · M · C · M · X · V ·

The circular medal measures 38mm in diameter and was struck in different materials. They are all "So-called Dollars." The bronze variant is known as HK-400, the gold-plated one as HK-401.

Many thanks to Eugene and Lu Anne Freeman who granted me permission to use images from their eBay store.

References: HK 399,400,401

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	38mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	38mm
mintage	unknown

material	Gold-plated Bronze
edge6
diameter	38mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:45

Description

The obverse bears a rearing pegasus before a stylized sun. Around, THE ELISABETH WATROUS MEDAL FOR SCULPTURE. The reverse bears a bearded man with wings, scythe and hourglass, judging sculpture of torso held in right hand. Below, TEMPUS JUDICAT.

Aitken designed this medal in 1914 for the National Academy of Design. I might be very wrong in my interpretation, but I think that Aitken expresses that time might be the harshest critic of art and that true art not only has to win the contemporary critic's heart but has to withstand the test of time. This interpretation would fit well with his strong artistic conservativsm.

Many thanks to the library of Cornell University which has allowed me to use their high quality image of this medal with the following notice:

Gift of Muriel Doebler-Glaser
Photography courtesy of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University.

References: MACo 1916-005

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.

edge6
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:15

Description

The medal's obverse bears a soldier facing half-left, saluting and standing at attention, his fieldkit and helmet at his feet to his right. Across, AMERICAN / EXPEDITIONARY / FORCES / FRANCE / 1919; signed at lower left, AITKEN / FECIT

The reverse bears upper half of stern-looking Statue of Liberty and stylized ocean waves.

The circular medal measures 50.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

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	50.1mm
weight	49.2g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Dec 21, 2017 15:10

Bronze

Description

The obverse bears facing bust of Marshal Foch. Around, COMMEMORATING THE VISIT OF MARSHALL FOCH TO THE VNITED STATES; to left, MCMXXI; to right, A N S with oak leafs.

The reverse presents winged female figure holding shield, between the shields of France to the left and the United States to the right. Signed at lower left, (RA monogram ) / FECIT

Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) was a French soldier, military theorist, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces in World War I.

The medal was the 43rd issue of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) in 1921 to commemorate Foch's visit to the United States.

Generals Foch and Pershing had coordinated their trips so that they would arrive more or less simultaneously, even though they were sailing on two different ships. Pershing arrived on Friday, October 28, 1921, two hours before Foch arrived on the Paris. He was given a hero's welcome by the entire city.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 1 piece in gold, 94 in silver, 205 in bronze and 1 piece in copper.

References: ANS 43, MACo 1921-006, Marqusee 5

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	Bronze
edge6
diameter	64mm
mintage	206 reported

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	64mm
mintage	94 reported

material	Gold
edge6
diameter	64mm
mintage	1 reported

material	Copper
edge6
diameter	64mm
mintage	1 reported

Last modified: Dec 21, 2017 15:32

Description

The medal's obverse bears helmeted head of Minerva (r.) within assymetrical beaded border. Signed below Minerva's chin, (RA monogram).

The reverse bears an arm aiming a bow and arrow upward through the clouds. Above and below arm, ARTES / AD ASTRA (The arts towards the stars).

The medal is edge marked with MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.

This award was established by famous architect Cass Gilbert to be awarded by the Council of the National Academy to persons here or abroad who have made significant contributions to the advacement of the arts. Aitken designed the medal in 1929 but by 1975, the Academy's 150th anniversary, it had only been awarded seven times.

The medal measures 56.7mm (2.25") in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References: MACo 1929-063

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	56.7mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:38

Red-gold bronze with brown patina

Description

The obverse bears an artfully draped couple embracing, woman in foreground. Legend reads OMNIA / VINCIT / AMOR (Love conquers all). The reverse bears the same couple as seen from the other side. Legend reads MAN / -KIND / LOVE A / LOVER. Signed AI /TK / EN.

The brochure which accompanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"In making a medal or medallion the main problem is to add, if possible, to its metallic alloy the one ingredient which makes bronze imperishable - Beauty - Beauty in thought and execution. For Beauty inspires Love - Love creates Beauty."

This medal was chosen as the 15th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. It measures 73mm in diameter and 1,160 pieces were struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Around 100 silver medals were struck from the same dies in the 1970s.

References: MACo 1930-001-015, Marqusee 4, SoM 15

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 5 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
patina	Red-gold bronze with brown patina
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIFTEENTH ISSUE
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE ROBERT AITKEN SCULPTOR
diameter	73mm
mintage	1160 reported (for all Bronze variants)

material	Bronze
patina	Red-gold bronze with brown patina
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIFTEENTH ISSUE ROBERT AITKEN SCULPTOR
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE
diameter	73mm
mintage	1160 reported (for all Bronze variants)

material	Bronze
patina	Golden bronze with very light tan patina
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIFTEENTH ISSUE ROBERT AITKEN SCULPTOR
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE
diameter	73mm
mintage	1160 reported (for all Bronze variants)

material	Bronze
patina	Golden bronze with very light tan patina
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIFTEENTH ISSUE MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE
edge6	ROBERT AITKEN SCULPTOR
diameter	73mm
mintage	1160 reported (for all Bronze variants)

material	Silver
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS FIFTEENTH ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. - .999+ PURE SILVER
diameter	73mm
mintage	100 reported, 700 authorized

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:55