Medals Depicting Birds

References:   MACo 1930-001-001, Marqusee 174, SoM 1

The obverse bears a bust (l.) of Richard Byrd wearing aviator's goggles emerging from a bank of clouds. Across, COMMEMORATING THE CONQUEST OF THE POLES / BY REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD / AND HIS ASSOCIATES / PRESENTED BY / THE AERONAUTICAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF AMERICA; along bottom edge, MAY 9 1926 - NOVEMBER 29 1929.

The reverse bears eagle perched on airborne Ford tri-motor; polar scene below, Signed at bottom right, KILENYI.

The bronze medal measures 82.4mm (3.25") in diameter and was struck by Whitehead & Hoag. During the presentation banquet one gold medal was given to Admiral Byrd, his associates received silver medals, and all other guests received bronze medals. The mintage is 1,000 pieces in bronze, 65 in silver-plate and 1 in 10kt gold. 

According to Harry Waterson, the undisputed Kilenyi specialist, a piece in sterling silver might exist. It might be that an initial production run or a sample piece was struck in sterling silver but then, due to the Great Depression, subsequent pieces were struck in much less cheaper silver-plated base metal.  Any updates on this question would be highly welcome.

References:   Marqusee 217

The medal's obverse bears a line of five runners, flying geese overhead, slim whippet racing below.

The reverse bears a nude athlete putting the shot. Flanking the athlete, 19 (RTM monogram) 36 - REJOICE / OH / YOUNG - MAN IN / THY - YOUTH; in exergue, ©

Robert Tait McKenzie is rightly famous for his athletic subjects and this medal is a good example. As he wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The last fifty years has shown a revival and spread of interest in competitive athletic sports and outdoor life that has no parallel in the history of the world...
As one who has followed this great movement from its inceptionto maturity I have chosen two phases of it for the thirteenth medal issued by the Society."

This medal was chosen as the 13th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 1,001 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   109, MACo 1930-001-013, Marqusee 269, SoM 13

The medal's obverse bears a crowned hawk perched on a dead pigeon. Around, THE DOVES ELECT - A HAWK THEIR KING

The reverse bears a dog seated on rocky outcropping, l., facing its reflection in rippling water. Around, LOSE NOT THE SUBSTANCE FOR THE SHADOW; signed at bottom, E. AMATEIS ©

Amateis selected the fables for "their enduring timeliness and left the interpretation up to the beholder, as best suits his sociological, political, or economic inclinations."

The two fables depicted are:

The Kite, Hawk, and Pigeons

The Pigeons find themselves persecuted by the Kite, made choice of the Hawk for their Guardian. The Hawk set up for their protector; but under the countenance of that Authority, makes more havoc in the Dovehouse in two Days than the Kite could have done in twice as many months.

The story's moral: Tis a dangerous thing for People to call in a powerful and ambitious Man for their Protector; and upon the Clamour of here and there a private Person, to hazard the whole Community.

A Dog and a Shadow

As a Dog was crossing a River with a morsel of Food in his Mouth, he saw (as he thought) another Dog under the Water, upon the very same adventure. He never consider'd that the one was only the Image of the other, but out of Greediness to get both, he chops at the Shadow, and loses the Substance.

The story's moral: All covet, all lose; which may serve for a Reproof to those that govern their Lives by Fancy and Appetite, without consulting the Honour and Justice of the Case.

This medal was chosen as the 21st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and has a reported mintage of 921 pieces in silver-plated bronze. Of the 700 authorized silver medals a reported 100 were struck in the 1970's.

References:   MACo 1930-001-021, Marqusee 7, SoM 21

The medal's obverse bears eagle gripping in its talons a wreath of thistles. Around, MATHIESON / CHEMICALS

The reverse bears chemical plant with silos and smokestacks. Around edge, THE MATHIESON ALKALI WORKS / MANUFACTURERS OF CHEMICALS; around inner field, RESEARCH · QUALITY · SERVICE; under factory, CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS / OF SERVICE TO AMERICAN / INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC / HEALTH / 1892 - 1942

The 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 1942-017

The medal's obverse bears a fish, a schooner under full sail and a sea gull in flight. Around edge, GLOUCESTER MASSACHUSETTS; signed under fish, G. Aarons 1973

The medal's reverse bears painter's palette with brushes, writer's book, and sculptor's mallet. Around top, 350TH ANNIVERSARY; at bottom, 1623 - 1973

Gloucester is a coastal city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts. That beautiful part of Massachusetts has traditionally attracted artists who had their summer studios there or lived there year round. Aarons was no exception to this trend. For many years he had studios in Brookline and Gloucester and, as a long-time resident, was honored with the task of creating the commemorative town medal that combines the coastal and artistic elements of the community.

The medal measures 38.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.

Many thanks to Fred Beihl (www.StewartstownCoinShop.com, 717-993-3163) who sent me the images and measurements.

References:   MACo 1972-099

This was the first Norway medal to be created for the series. The design was probably inspired by the rapid expansion of speculative North Sea oil drilling at the time prompted by the 1973 oil crisis.

The obverse presents a view out to sea with an advancing line of oil drilling platforms in the background. Ung subtly suggests a sea covered by oil slick that has washed up a dead gull on the shore in the foreground. 

The emotive conservationist theme of the obverse is matched by the mother and child design on the reverse. Ung intended this to represent Mother Norway embracing the child of future prospects. The design is thus something of a landmark in nation gendering as Norway at that time did not have the tradition of female allegorical symbols of countries such as Russia (Mother Russia), England (Brittania), and France (Marianne). Ung's design adds the future child, layering in traditional religious icon elements to the design, implying that the present country needs to take care of and protect the future environment. He's followed the tradition of having the mother's gaze fixed on the child who is in turn looking out at the viewer.

References:   NorA NO-1975

The obverse bears a gazelle in dynamic pose, front legs in air and neck arched backwards. Above, BROOKGREEN GARDENS; below, SOUTH CAROLINA

The reverse bears Carolina wren in dense rhododendron foliage.

This was the fifth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1977. It is one of my personal favorites from the series and seems to be sought after by collectors.

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

References:   BG 5

The medal's obverse bears owl perched on an oak branch. Above, MEMBER'S MEDAL; to left, PARVA NE / PEREANT; signed at lower right, ELISCU

The medal's reverse bears an oak sapling growing through a rock. Around, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

By the 1970's it became apparent that a new member medal had to be created.  The stock of old Borglum medals was about to be exhausted and the old dies were not in good enough shape for another production run.  The ensuing competition was won by Frank Eliscu with a design that bore a Barn owl symbolizing wisdom and learning.  As Eliscu wrote in his notes:

The owl has long been a symbol of learning and scholarship. The Greeks associates the owl with their patroness Athena, Godess [sic] of Knowledge, and this bird look [sic] out from the obverse side of Athenian coins.

In using the Barn Owl, I am trying to relate more closely with the American scene, and as the A.N.S. is one of America's oldest learned societies. I feel the Barn owl, stylized, a most appropriate symbol.

The medal thus became the 53rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society. Exact mintages are not available but by April 1979 the following mintages were reported:  122 in silver and 241 in bronze.  The initial order carried serial numbers on the edge.

References:   ANS 53, MACo 1977-123

References:   BG 7