Medals Related to Horses

The medal's obverse bears rider galloping to right, facing back with pistol held straight out. To left, PONY EXPRESS; to right, TEN DAYS TO / SAN FRANCISCO

The reverse bears settlers with Conestoga wagon drawn by oxen, mountain and sun in background. Below, NEW FRONTIERS / 18 (cattle skull) 49 / © JAMES EARLE FRASER SC

The medal's reverse is very familiar to coin collectors who know the motif from the Oregon Trail half dollar. Fraser was a traditionalist who wrote in the brochure that accompanied the medal:

"... wherever possible we should use the lore of our people. With this thought in mind I selected two of the most romantic, hazardous and important subjects of our pioneer days, the Prairie Schooner and the Pony Express."

This medal was chosen as the 45th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1952.

The circular medals measure 73mm in diameter and were struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. The reported mintage is 964 pieces in bronze.  There are two versions of the silver medal.  The first is the from the 1970's edition that was limited to 700 pieces with no mintage reported. The second is a telemarketing reissue from 1993 with an estimated mintage of 300 pieces.

References:   MACo 1930-001-45, SoM 45

References:   MACo 1968-018

References:   MACo 1971-187

The obverse bears conjoined busts of Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer M. Huntington facing right. Above, AMICI - HVMANI - GENERIS; below, ARCHER M. HUNTINGTON / ANNA HYATT HUNTINGTON

The reverse bears Anna Hyatt Huntington's Fighting Stallions sculpture, one rider hanging on to mane of his steed, the other about to be trampled under his horse's hooves. In exergue, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS; at lower right, ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON

This was the first of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals issued in 1973.

Carl Paul Jennewein was a sculptor, trustee and chairman at Brookgreen Gardens and designed the first issue in the member medal series.

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

References:   BG 1

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

The medal's obverse bears dramatic scene of fighting stallions. Signed at lower right, (JOV monogram)

References:   MACo 1988-251, Cal MA-1989

References:   Cal HM-2000

References:   BG 34

References:   BG 39