Medals Related to Los Angeles | Glossary

Description

The medal's obverse bears three busts, Brunelleschi, left, Michelangelo, facing, da Vinci, right. Around, · MVNICIPAL · ART · COMMISSION · / CITY · OF · LOS ANGELES; across bottom, BRUNELLESCHI / MICHELANGELO / LEONARDO DA VINCI; signed GLADYS LEWIS BUSH / 1946

The reverse is an empty field surrounded by heavily beaded border.

"It has been discovered that Los Angeles is not as beautiful a city as natural advantages warrant, and it is proposed to form a commission that will eradicate many of the defects," notes a 1903 Los Angeles Times article. Thus the commission was first created to enhance the city's beauty. Eventually it would come to play a much more significant role. By 1911, all city building projects had to be OK'ed by the commission.

The circular medal measures 75.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References: MACo 1946-008

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. / BRONZE
diameter	75.2mm
weight	177.8g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:38

Description

The medal's obverse bears image of a sculpture of six birds flying up towards the sky.

The reverse bears view of office building with two palm trees and five smaller trees; clouds behind. Around top, PIERCE NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY; under building, HOME OFFICE / LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Dick Johnson's reference work of American medallic art has this medal listed under Svenson and its obverse under Joseph di Lorenzo without further explanation. Maybe that means that the two cooperated on the medal or maybe it's a filing mistake (usually he mentions the form of cooperation as well as the fact that there was a cooperation). For now, I have attributed this medal only to Svenson.

References: MACo 1967-033

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Nov 1, 2017 17:54

Description

The oval medal's obverse bears doctor standing behind boy, hands on his neck and abdomen; behind, USC medical center building. Around, FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE; signed at lower left, ABRAM / BELSKIE / Sc.

The reverse bears seal of the county of Los Angeles. Above, FOUNDED 1878; below, LOS ANGELES / COUNTY / USC / MEDICAL / CENTER

The LA County Medical Center dates back to 1878, when the County of Los Angeles opened a 100-bed hospital on Mission Road to care for Los Angeles’ indigent population. The County affiliated with the University of Southern California (USC) Medical School in 1885 for the provision of care.

On December 7, 1930, Hollywood actress Mary Pickford dedicated the 8-ton cornerstone for a modern Los Angeles County General Hospital on State Street. The building opened in 1933 but was damaged by an earthquake in 1994. It was finally replaced in 2008.

The distinguished service medal has been awarded since 1967.

The oval medal measures 62.6mm x 82.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References: MACo 1967-106

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N Y.
dimensions	62.6mm x 82.4mm
weight	266.5g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: May 14, 2019 13:28