Karen Worth

The obverse bears Pygmalion, a legendary king of Cyprus, who carved the figure of a beautiful maiden and immediately fell in love with it. Around, PYGMALION AND GALATEA; in exergue, KAREN (crossed mallets) WORTH.

The reverse bears Orpheus who was celebrated in Greek Literature as the outstanding poet of his age. Above, BROOKGREEN GARDENS (flower) SOUTH CAROLINA; in exergue, ORPHEUS

This was the tenth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1982. Karen Worth created a beautiful medal that represents Brookgreen Gardens like few others. The obverse captures the exact moment when the statue comes alive, representing the merging of sculpture and nature. The reverse depicts a great poet surrounded by native South Carolina wildlife, again expressing how nature and art are combined by Brookgreen Gardens. 

This is one of my favorite Brookgreen Garden medals.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears flying figure, with stretched out arms strapped to stylized wings, trailing shock waves as in illustrations of supersonic flight; stylized sun at left. Across bottom, MILLENIUM / 2000; signed at bottom, KAREN WORTH © 2000

The reverse bears male, female, child and baby set into elliptical electron orbits of nuclear model. Background covered by incuse legend consisting of language names followed by that language's word for 2,000.

The edge is marked at 6:00, CRECO IND. DANBURY CT

The figure on the obverse might well be a jet-age Icarus who is about to have his wings stripped by pushing through the sound barrier.

The medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and is struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.