The uniface plaquette bears two female figures flanking a medal with trylon and sphere at top and award badge at bottom. Above, THE WORLD'S FAIR / OF 1940 IN NEW YORK; on badge, SPECIAL / AWARD / OF / MERIT
Julio Kilenyi designed the medals for the World's Fair and this plaque is very reminiscent of his works. Elaine Leotti, a researcher who studied the artists who worked for Whitehead & Hoag, attributed this plaquette to him but Harry Waterson, a dedicated Kilenyi specialist, thinks it unlikely. I have decided to leave the medal unattributed for now, pending further feedback from the specialists.
The plaquette measures 63.5mm x 88.5mm and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.