Medals relating to Buildings

The medal's obverse bears head of Statue of Liberty, facing. Around, STATUE OF LIBERTY / 1886 · CENTENNIAL · 1986; signed at right, (JOV monogram)

The reverse bears Statue of Liberty facing half right. Across, GIVE - ME YOUR / TIRED, - YOUR POOR, / YOUR - HUDDLED / MASSES - YEARNING TO / BREATHE - FREE. THE / WRETCHED - REFUSE / OF YOUR - TEEMING / SHORE. - SEND / THESE, THE - HOMELESS, / TEMPEST- - TOST TO ME. / I LIFT - MY LAMP / BESIDE - THE / GOLDEN / DOOR / Emma / Lazarus; signed at lower right, (JOV monogram)

This medal bears many similarities with the 1986 Calendar medal, also by Marcel Jovine. The obverse becomes the calendar medal reverse's center field, and the reverse is changed to show an immigrant family surrounded by Emma Lazarus' poem.  At a guess, Marcel Jovine submitted multiple designs and the Medallic Art Company decided to create more than one medal from them.

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

The uniface medal bears image of PPG Place in Pittsburgh with cathedral-like structures in background. On right, PPG / PLACE; in exergue, BLOUNT

The edge is marked ©1984 MEDALLIC ART CO. - DANBURY, CT. - BRONZE

Based on the date it is likely that the medal celebrates the completion of the PPG Place development. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on January 28, 1981, and the complex was dedicated on April 11, 1984. The office space opened in August 1983, just two and a half years after the construction began. The gleaming glass and steel structures, known worldwide for their breathtaking design, were developed by John Burgee Architects with the internationally renowned architect Philip Johnson from New York.

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1986-096

References:   Cal MC-1986

The medal's obverse bears walking immigrant family, faces turned upwards in silent awe. Across, the famous lines from Emma Lazarus: GIVE ME / YOUR TIRED, YOUR / HUDDLED - MASSES / YEARN-ING TO / BREAT-HE FREE. / THE WR-ETCHED / REFUSE - OF YOUR / TEEMING - SHORE. SE/ND THEESE, - THE HOME/LESS, TEM-PEST-TOST / TO ME. - I LIFT / MY LAMP - BESIDE / THE GO-LDEN / DOOR. Signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The medal's reverse bears Statue of Liberty's head in center; at its right, 19 / 86; signed over left shoulder with (JOV monogram); twelve segments with months around.

In reference to the Statue of Liberty's nickname, this medal is also known as the "Mother of Exiles" medal.

The calendar panel was engraved by John Oliva.  Jovine designed and sculpted both sides but left the area of the calendar panel empty in what is called a "reserve." Oliva then added the calendar panel with all the month name and number lettering.

This circular circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and possibly silver by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut.

Many thanks to CJ Swinko for the excellent photos.

References:   MACo 1985-039, Cal MA-1986

References:   ANS 55

The medal's obverse bears view of the Great Pyramid and Mortuary Temple. Signed at right, JUREK

The reverse bears calendar on three panels surrounded by hieroglyphs. On left and right panel, 19 - 98

This was the first installment in a little sub series of calendar medals that depicted the seven Ancient Wonders of the World. According to the pamphlet accompanying the medals, the series was the brainchild of Jurek Jakowicz who also got to sculpt the first medal.

The circular medal measures 75.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. The origina; purchase price was $34.95 for a bronze and $169 for a silver medal. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-1998

The medal's obverse bears view of ziggurats and walls decorated by mythical beasts with luscious vegetation growing all around; two figures standing in entryway.

The reverse bears calendar fields integrated into overall archway design decoreated with mythical beasts. At bottom, 1999

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the best known ancient wonders but nevertheless the original location has never been definitively identified. The problem is that the ancient Babylonians used clay for construction and, between the impacts of climate and war, that material leaves almost no traces behind.

This is the second issue in a little mini series called The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World that comprised of the Medallic Art Company's annual calendar medals from 1998 to 2004.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company. No mintages are reported. The medals were originally available for purchase at a price of $34.95 per bronze and $169 per silver piece.

References:   Cal MA-1999

The medal's obverse bears view of Pharos of Alexandria with its entrance guarded by two giant statues and a sailing vessel behind.

The reverse bears three calendar panels ornamented with sea shells and flanked by mermaids. At top of middle panel, 2000

The Pharos of Alexandria was named after the Nile delta island on which it was located, "Pharao's Island." It was a lighthouse that used a giant fire at night and bronze mirrors by day to signal the location of the entry to the Nile river. It is estimated that the signal was visible across a distance of 34 to 300 miles!

This is the third medal in a little calendar medal sub-series about the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported. The medals were originally available for $34.95 per bronze and $169 per silver piece.

References:   Cal MA-2000

The medal's obverse bears the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, depicting Zeus seated on a throne, holding a scepter in his left hand and a figure of Victory; priests at his feet provide a measure of scale.

The reverse bears calendar panel in three columns surrounded by twelve scenes depicting Heracles' Labors. At top of middle panel, 2001

Heracles was Zeus' mortal son who is said to have established the Olympic Games to honor his father. Heracles' Twelve Labors are a series of episodes concerning a penance carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. They were accomplished over 12 years at the service of King Eurystheus.

The medals were originally offered for a price of $34.95 per bronze piece and $169.00 per silver piece.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in antiqued bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayon, Nevada. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-2001

The medal's obverse bears view of temple with people on plaza in front and landscape behind. Signed at lower left, DAB

The reverse bears calendar panels inscribed into two columns next to image of multi-breasted mother-goddess Artemis. Beside goddess, ARTEMIS; at right, 2002

The Temple of Artemis calendar medal was the fifth issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was designed by Mark Frost and sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand. 

The circular medal measures 77mm 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 $169.

References:   Cal MA-2002