Angels

The obverse bears bust of Franklin, left. Around, BENJ. FRANKLIN NATUS BOSTON. XVII JAN. / MDCCVI; signed on truncation, DUPRE. F

The reverse bears nude winged genius, broken crown and scepter at his feet, lightning striking towards rotunda at left. Around, ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN - SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS; in exergue, SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT / AUG. DUPRE ANNO / MDCCLXXXIV

The latin legend around the reverse can be translated to "He seized lightning from the heavens and the scepter from tyrants." The legend in the exergue translates to "Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupré in the year 1784"

Franklin had been sent to Paris in 1776 to negotiate an alliance with France and had quickly become a hugely popular figure. Adams and Bentley conclude that this medal was sponsored by a private friend (or group of friends) to honor him.

A second medal, also engraved by Dupré, was issued two years later. Both medals share the same obverse die and the same reverse inscription, but where the earlier medal features the winged genius on the reverse, the later one merely features an oak wreath. That later version was sponsored by Louis XVI.

As with many of the early American medals that were originally struck in France, there are numerous later restrikes.  I do not yet have the expertise to distinguish an early original from a later restrike. Maybe someone with the requisite experience can help out. If I'm correct, this medal is usually referred to as Betts-619.

The plaquette bears seated angel, r., playing the lyre. Signed at right top, (TSS monogram).

This handsome plaquette is a companion piece to the better known "L'ange au violon" plaquette, which shows a seated angel playing the violin and facing the other direction.

The plaquette measures 48.8mm x 53mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The uniface plaquette bears winged female figure, holding up burning torch in one hand and scroll with laurel branch in the other; floating above city skyline. Across top, THE ASSOCIATED BUSINESS / PAPERS AWARD / FOR / OUTSTANDING / EDITORIAL / SERVICE; in exergue, AWARDED TO

Associated Business Papers, Inc. was created on March 18, 1916, when the Federation of Trade Press Associations adopted a new constitution at their conference, held in Pittsburgh that year. After the reorganization, membership comprised 125 national and local publications that together represented just over half of the business done by all legitimate trade and technical papers in the United States.

The award plaquette measures 45.4mm x 75.9mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-039

This uniface medal bears seated winged female figure facing right; leaning on one arm, the other raised to head, lowered in posture of meditation.

This is a gorgeous medal that, if there were any doubts, establishes Hinton as one of the American medallic greats. The design was later reused as the center field on the obverse of a commercial commemorative medal.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1932-056

The obverse bears man leaning on plow, gazing right toward military cemetery. To left and right, MAN - SEEKS / TO TURN - FROM THE / SAVAGERY - OF WAR; in exergue, 1936 / ©

The reverse bears winged female figure in flight over mountains, holding olive branch. In exergue, PEACE

Stewart's Message from the Artist was very brief:

"In arriving at the subject matter for a contemporary medal, I was guided by the belief that man's voice of protest against war is growing from and inaudible whisper to a resounding concordance, which may bring 'between all men peace and good fellowship.'"

The message was deeply felt and widely shared, yet 1936 was already giving a preview of the violence that was to engulf the world within a few years: Italy concquered Ethiopia, civil war raged in Spain, Japanese aggression against China, the Arab revolt against the British, and of course Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland were all portents of a world at strife.

This medal was chosen as the 14th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its mintage is reported to be 968 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-014, Marqusee 371, SoM 14

The obverse shows Peace in flowing tunic hovering on clouds before world globe. Around, WORLD PEACE

The reverse bears dove and olive spray on book, rays behind. Around, PEACE ON EARTH, AMONG MEN OF GOOD WILL; signed below, JK / ©

World War II had finally come to a conlusion and the world was exhausted... and relieved. Kiselewski tried to capture the optimistic attitude that seemed to point towards a future that could only be better than what lay behind. In his "From the Artist" he wrote:

"The war was over; the misery and horror had gone. I have tried to portray a simple and cheerful 'World Peace' which would rest the mind from the dismal past and look only to the bright future."

This medal was chosen as the 33rd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1946. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 802 pieces in bronze and 60 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-033, SoM 33

References:   MACo 1930-001-053, SoM 53

The medal's obverse bears female angel in flight, reaching for a star in the firmament. Signed at bottom, B. LUCCHESI

The reverse bears two hands holding an eight-pointed star. Across, Christmas / 1975; at right bottom, © MACO / 1975

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver bu the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1975-164