Medals Related to Detroit

The obverse bears a winged female figure representing Victory striding forward to the left, holding a sword wrapped in a palm leaf; a radiant sun in the background. Around: VIXIT - VIVIT - VIVET (Lived, Conquered, Shall Live).

The reverse bears a scroll with fasces behind at center, inscribed: IN MEMORY/ OF ONE WHO/ DIED IN THE/ CAUSE OF/ FREEDOM AND/ HUMANITY. Above, an eagle holding a laurel wreath perches atop the end of a cannon and ball. Around: PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF DETROIT - 1919.

The Society of Arts and Crafts, Detroit, issued memorial medals in 1919 that were given by the City of Detroit to the families of men who lost their lives in the Great War.

An earlier version of this medal, with a less evolved obverse design, is in the Smithsonian Art Museum Collection.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck 900 pieces in bronze.

References:   MACo 1919-011

The uniface medal bears a winged female figure, facing, standing on a disk or globe, holding a sword and a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing the harvest of souls and the separation of the righteous from the the wicked; wreath extending from disk to both sides. Around bottom, VIXIT · VICIT · VIVET

The medal was commissioned by the city of Detroit to honor the fallen veterans of World War I. Manship created several designs, this being the first. The design that was finally chosen can be seen here.

The Latin motto translates roughly to "[They] lived, [they] conquered, [they] shall live."

The circular medal measures 67.5mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.

The medal's obverse bears kneeling woman with stole or garlands, facing right, in round field with incuse border. Below, NATIONAL ORATORICAL / CONTEST / PRESENTED BY / THE DETROIT NEWS / CLARENCE TARZWELL

The reverse bears legend: WE THE PEOPLE OF THE / VNITED STATES IN ORDER / TO FORM A MORE PERFECT / VNION, ESTABLISH JVSTICE, INSVRE DOMESTIC TRANQVILITY, / PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON / DEFENCE, PROMOTE THE / GENERAL: WELFARE, AND SECURE / THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY / TO OVRSELVES AND OVR / POSTERITY DO ORDAIN AND / ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITVTION / FOR THE VNITED STATES / OF AMERICA

The National Oratorical Contest grew from a local competition held by the Los Angeles Times in 1923 to a national movement sponsored by the major regional newspapers of the day. Topics had to be related to the U.S. Constitution and prizes were a hefty $1,500 for the winner.  The competition was held annually until 1933.

On April 11, 1925, Clarence Tarzwell won the local competition for oratory that was held at his high school in Deckerville, MI. He went on to become a well-known biologist and is credited as a major contributor to the Clean Water Act of 1972.  He retired to South Kingstown, Rhode Island, where he died in 1993.

These plaques exists in many variants.  Many were struck with the sponsoring newspaper's name in raised letters.  The shields on the plaquettes usually come engraved with the contest year (1924 - 1933). I have chosen to only track the different metals as variants.  The plaquettes are known to have been struck in bronze, silver and even gold. With 10 years of competition, and five or more participating newspapers, the mintage must be substantial. It should be noted that the New York Times awarded a different medal designed by Emil Fuchs.

References:   MACo 1924-008

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Simon J. Murphy, Sr., facing. Around, SIMON J. MURPHY / 1815 - 1905; signed under truncation at right, Eue

The reverse bears a view of the Penobscot Building. Above, PENOBSCOT; over smaller building in background, 1915; below, 1927 1905

Simon J. Murphy Sr. (1815-1905) was a Maine businessman who started out as a logger and ended up in control of vast lumber lands in Michigan and all over America.  He started the take-over of the Pacific Lumber Company, which succeeded two months after his death. The buildings on the reverse are located in Detroit's financial district.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.