Medals Related to Baltimore

This medal's obverse bears bust of Gibbons facing right. Around, JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS

The reverse bears a view of Baltimore Basilica above coat of arms. Around, SACERDOS · 30 · JUN · 1861 ✝ EPISCOPUS · 16 · AUG 1868 (crozier) ARCHIEPISCOPUS · 3 · OCT · 1877 ☨ CARDINALIS · 30 · JUN · 1886; to left and right of coat of arms, 1861 - 1911

James Cardinal Gibbons was only the second American to attain the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Born to Irish immigrants, he became a priest in 1861 after recovering from severe Malaria that had left him too weak to be ordained four years earlier. Gibbons was controversial on several issues. He was a strong supporter of workers' causes and was instrumental in securing papal permission for Catholics to organize in labor unions. He also took a position in support of the King of Belgium and against clergy who were complaining against exploitative colonial practices.

Mencken, often a harsh critic of Christian ministers, wrote in 1921 after the Gibbons' death:

"More presidents than one sought the counsel of Cardinal Gibbons: he was a man of the highest sagacity, a politician in the best sense, and there is no record that he ever led the Church into a bog or up a blind alley. He had Rome against him often, but he always won in the end, for he was always right."

Designed by Jenkins and modeled by Miller, this medal was issued as part of Gibbons' golden jubilee celebration where President Taft honored him for his contributions.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1911-001

The medal's obverse bears imaginary scene aboard American ship with two men witnessing the British bomardment of Fort McHenry with large American flag rising above clouds of powder smoke. Around top, "'TIS THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"

The medal's reverse bears medallic portrait of Francis Scott Key with draped American flag and laurel branches.  Around, · NATIONAL STAR-SPANGLED BANNER CENTENNIAL · / BALTIMORE, MD. U.S.A. SEPT. 6-13.1914

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the American victory.

The circular medal measures 50.9mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears likeness of Alexander Edward Duncan. Around, COMMERCIAL CREDIT COMPANY / ALEXANDER EDWARD DUNCAN - FOUNDER; to left and right of portrait, 1912 / 1937; signed at lower right (HS monogram).

The reverse bears male nude with horn of plenty, seated, beholding skyline of New York City and sun on horizon. Around, $300,000 - 1912 INVESTED CAPITAL 1937 - $63,500,000; In lower field, ALEXANDER E. DUNCAN - JAMES C. FENHAGEN / WILLIAM H. GRIMES - R. WALTER GRAHAM / ELI C. WAREHEIM - SYLVAN H. AUCHHEIMER / HENRY B. MATHEWS - FRANK M. NICODEMUS / WILLIAM A. KOEGEL - HARRY KRATZ / 1912.

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO N.Y / BRONZE.

The Commercial Credit Company was founded in Baltimore by Alexander E. Duncan and a group of eight businessmen. The company initially lent money to companies using their accounts receivable as security. Starting in 1916, the firm entered the growing field of auto finance, which became an ever increasingly important branch of its business until the 1930s, when the Great Depression caused auto sales to plunge. During this time, the firm bought several debt collection services and consolidated them under the name Textile Banking Co., Inc.

The Commercial Credit Company went through several transformations during its history, which extends to this day. In the 1980s and 90s, the company acquired the Control Data Corporation, Primerica Inc., Action Data Services, Inc., the loan partfolio of Barclays American Financial and Landmark Financial Services Inc.

References:   MACo 1937-033

The uniface medal's obverse bears city view of Baltimore with Washington Monument in center and Sherwood Brothers S logo at bottom. Around, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY SHERWOOD BROTHERS INCORPORATED / 1896 - 1946; to left of monument, WASHINGTON / MONUMENT / BALTIMORE / MARYLAND

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears flying bird with American shield iover ship's sterring wheel. Inscribed in wheel, UNITED STATES - FIDELITY AND - GUARANTY COMPANY / · 1896 ·;  In exergue, U.S.F. & G. / BALTIMORE / MARYLAND

The reverse bears flying bird over wreath. Sword with 1896 at left, staff with 1946 at right; between, FIFTY YEARS / OF / INSURANCE / AND / SURETYSHIP

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

The obverse bears perched American Eagle behind Catholic University's coat of arms. Around, THE · CATHOLIC · UNIVERSITY · OF · AMERICA; in coat of arms, DEUS - MEA / LUX - EST

The reverse bears cross. Around, · CORRIGAN · McCORMICK · McENTEGART · McDONALD · KEANE · CONATY · O'CONNELL · SHAHAN · RYAN ·; across, 1889 - 1964 / DIAMOND - JUBILEE; at top, seven papal names, at bottom, three U.S. cardinal names, GIBBONS / CURLEY / O'BOYLE

The medal's edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. BRONZE.

At the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1866, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops first discussed the need for a national Catholic university. After Mary Gwendoline Caldwell pledged $300,000 to establish it, Pope Leo XIII sent James Cardinal Gibbons a letter granting permission to establish the university on April 10, 1887. Finally, on March 7, 1889 the Pope issued the encyclical Magna Nobis, granting the university its charter and establishing its mission as the instruction of Catholicism and human nature together at the graduate level.

Today, the Catholic University of America is rated one of the best value colleges in America. To help keep it affordable, the American Cardinals Dinner is put on by the residential U.S. cardinals each year to raise scholarship funds.

The medal measures 70mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1963-054