The medal's obverse bears view of giant mausoleum tower with mountains in background and two human figures on plaza for scale.
The reverse bears calendar panels between columns. At bottom, 2004
Mausollos (377 - 353 BC) was a provincial ruler in the Persian Empire. His provincial capital, Halicarnassus, is located on the Aegean Sea and corresponds with the modern day Turkish city of Budrum. Mausollos' wife and sister conceived of the project and he hired the Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius to design the building. It was completed three years after Mausollos' death in 350 BC.
The word "mausoleum" is derived from this building.
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus calendar medal was the seventh and last issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was probably designed by Mark Frost and sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell but, in a breach with earlier calendar medal issues, the pamphlet that came with the medal listed neither designer nor sculptor. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand.
The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported. The bronze pieces originally sold for $34.95, the silver pieces for $189.
References: Cal MA-2004