fish

The obverse bears a nude boy with a fishing rod who just caught a little fish and the the first half of an Oliver Wendell Holmes quotation: "OH WHAT ARE THE PRIZES WE PERISH TO WIN."

The reverse bears a jumping trout with the second half of the quote: "TO THE FIRST LITTLE SHINER WE CAUGHT WITH A PIN."

In the artists own words:

"Beneath these whimsical words of the poet runs a vein of seriousness. I have not been unmindful of that undercurrent. A boy fishing is a common sight. But a boy's hopes, aspirations, struggles - these are the things that build the world's epics."

This medal was chosen as the 9th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 1,207 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-009, Marqusee 3, SoM 9

References:   Murtha 475

The medal's obverse bears brown trout taking a wet fly shown with V-shaped wake.

The reverse bears a "Parmachene Belle" fishing fly. Signed at lower left, (GP monogram) / ©

This medal was selected as the 47th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1953. After "Boy Fishing", this was the second fishing-themed medal in the series. As the artist wrote in his lengthy comments accompanying the medal:

"Protagonists of the dry fly and the wet fly will still be giving one another an argument on the day of judgement. To be perfectly unbiased, this medal caters to both."

Apparently both sides liked the medal and it was universally well received by the membership.

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. The mintage is reported as 834 pieces in bronze and an unknown number of pieces in silver (from a limited edition of 700).

References:   MACo 1930-001-47, SoM 47

The medal's obverse bears angler standing in stream, facing right, fishing rod raised high in one hand, other arm extended down to net hooked trout. Around, THE ANGLERS' CLUB OF NEW YORK / HONOR - MEDAL

The reverse bears brook trout going for fly. Across, FOR / OUTSTANDING / SERVICE IN / THE FIELDS OF / CONSERVATION / ICHTYOLOGY / THE / SPORT / OF / ANGLING

The Anglers' Club of New York appears to have been founded in 1905.  It is an exclusive social club whose members are united by their love of fly fishing.  Membership is strictly capped and by invitation only. One story I found recounted an obituary stating that the deceased had spent three decades on the waiting list for club membership.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for making this medal available to me for research.

References:   MACo 1954-066

References:   MACo 1967-151-003

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 medal's obverse bears muscular male figure standing in water, holding back two horses with outstretched arms; clouds and lightning in background.  Around, COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION OF LIBBY DAM / KOOTENAI RIVER MONTANA - AUGUST 24, 1975; signed over water at right, WEIN, Sc.

The reverse bears two jumping fish above conjoined American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf. Above, CONSTRUCTED BY THE / U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS / UNDER THE COUMBIA RIVER TREATY / BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES / AND CANADA

This is a really handsome medal that is somewhat reminiscent of much earlier art deco medals.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut.

References:   MACo 1975-152

References:   Cal MA-1993