Anthony de Francisci - Medals | Medallic Art Collector

Bronze

Description

The obverse bears bst of Paul Revere, l. above sword entwined with fillet and a silver urn; cable border around circumference. Above, --- PAUL REVERE ---; to right, -1753 / 1818-; to left and right, PATRIOT SOLDIER / SILVERSMITH ENGRAVER

The reverse shows Revere standing beside horse, awaiting the lantern signal from the church steeple. Around, PAUL REVERE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL 1925; in exergue, A N (ANS seal) S; to left and right of exergue, signed A F

This medal was the 45th issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The medal measures 63mm (2.5in) in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck 173 pieces in bronze and at least 65 in silver.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for making available the images of the silver variant.

References: ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

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.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	63mm
mintage	173 reported

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	63mm
mintage	at least 65 reported

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 15:52

Description

The medal's obverse features a powerful, god-like figure carrying in his arms a limp body; in background, towering cloud with lightning and waves. Around, MIDLAND · UTILITIES · MEDAL; in exergue, · 1928 (AF monogram)

The reverse bears burning candle. Around, AWARDED · IN · RECOGNITION · OF / GREAT · PUBLIC · SERVICE · IN / SAVING · HUMAN · LIFE; at bottom; · TO · / ALBERT - FARMER / · 19 - 33 ·

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER

De Francisci designed this medal for the Midland Utilities Company as an award given to people who had saved a human life. The medals were expensively customized for each recipient and certainly not mass-produced.

This particular medal was awarded to Albert Farmer of Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Farmer, who worked as a railroad lineman for the Indiana Railroad Company, resuscitated the 4 year old Harry Sumner, saving him from drowning on July 31st, 1932.

The medal was first awarded in 1929. In 1933, the year in which this medal was awarded, only five life saving medal were awarded, providing an indication of the rarity of this medal.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References: Baxter 350, MACo 1928-060, Marqusee 135

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	Silver
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. SILVER
diameter	64mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:37

Silver-plated with light frosty antiquing

Description

The obverse bears hand with flame bracelet holding infant and moon before swirling clouds and lighning. Divided by hand, FIAT - VITA; signed at bottom with large circled © and FRANCISCI ··· around.

The reverse bears streams of plasma, stars, and lightning around cloudy center, suggesting the creation of the cosmos.

De Francisci picked Creation as the theme for this medal and succeeded in creating a beautiful medal that combines both the religious and the scientific approaches in one model. The obverse shows the hand of the creator, on which rests a bold infant, secure in its place in the center of the universe. On the reverse we have a more scientific image of swirling gas clouds, hinting at cosmological processes of creation.

As de Francisci put it in his "Sculptor's Message," which focused on the scientific explanation:

"The advent of life, either in its rudimentary or complex organism, is based on the hypothesis that life could evolve and endure on all planets receiving heat and light from a central orb."

The scalloped edge incorporated the medal as a whole into the design and made it even more special.

This medal was chosen as the twelfth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1935. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the medal measures 72mm in diameter and has a reported production quantity of 1,165 in silver-plated bronze and 100 in silver. This medal was re-issued in silver in 1993 as part of a promotion. The mintage of that re-issue is not known.

References: MACo 1930-001-012, Marqusee 160, SoM 12

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	Silver-plated bronze
patina	Silver-plated with light frosty antiquing
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.
diameter	72mm
mintage	1165 reported (for all Silver-plated bronze variants)

material	Silver-plated bronze
patina	Silver-plated with boldly contrasting antiquing
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.
diameter	72mm
mintage	1165 reported (for all Silver-plated bronze variants)

material	Silver
patina	Silver with boldly contrasting antiquing
edge12	MACO / .999 SILVER
diameter	72mm
mintage	unknown

material	Silver
edge12	THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS TWELFTH ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. - .999+ PURE SILVER
diameter	72mm
mintage	100 reported, 700 authorized

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:54

Description

The obverse bears bust of Murray D. Lincoln, right. Around, (rosette) MURRAY · D · LINCOLN (rosette) / COMMEMORATIVE · AWARD

The reverse bears stylized wreath around. In center, "PEOPLE · / · HAVE · WITHIN · / THEIR · OWN · HANDS / THE · TOOLS · TO · FASHION / · · THEIR · OWN · · / · DESTINY" · / (signature of Murray D Lincoln); signed (AF monogram)

Murray D Lincoln (1892-1966) grew up and was educated in Massachusetts. He started his career as a county agricultural agent in New London county, Connecticut. He eventually lead four Nationwide Insurance companies as President. Outside of business he was a member of the American Food for Peace Council, Freedom from Hunger Committee, National Commission on Literacy, the central committee of the International Cooperative Alliance, and the advisory committee of the Agency for International Development (AID).

The circular medal measures 70mm 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	70mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:38

Description

The medal's obverse bears bust of Robert E. Lee, facing left. Around, · · · ROBERT · E · LEE; at lower right, 1807 / 1870; signed at bottom, (AF monogram)

The reverse bears Lee on horseback, facing left, Confederate flags to left and right and shouldered rifles visible over ridgeline in background; stylized sun rays behind massive cloud in background.

The circular medal measures 34.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References: MACo 1962-081

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	MEDALLIC ART CO N.
diameter	34.7mm
weight	27.4g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 15:44