Medals Related to New York City

This medal is the eleventh issue in the prestigious and highly collectible Circle of Friends of the Medallion series.

The medal's obverse bears a figure representing New York, seated on a throne, holding burning torch in one hand, skyscraper in other. Around, TERCENTENARY / NEW YORK / 1914.

The reverse depicts the ship New Netherland which brought the first settlers to New Amsterdam in 1623, flanked by Dutchman with musket and Native American with bow and peace pipe; beaver below. Around, NEW NETHERLAND FOUNDED / 1614.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Davison of Philadelphia.

References:   Baxter 361, CoF 11, Marqusee 253

References:   Baxter 304, MACo 1914-011, Marqusee 338

The medal's obverse bears first seal of the city, three diagonal crosses on shield with three vertical bars, beaver on top. Underneath, SIGILLUM AMSTELLO / DAMENSIS IN NOVO BELGIO; around edge, in two lines, ISSUED BY THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 1915 / TER HERINNERING AAN DEN 300 JAARDAG DER NEDERLANDSCHE VESTIGING OP MANHATTAS 1613

The reverse bears city seal with Native American, windmill, sailor, and beaver, crown on top. Around, COMMEMORATING THE 250 ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, 1665

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to Stephen Carofalo who sent me the images for this medal and also did research on all the Holland Society medals.

References:   HSoNY 1915.2

The medal's obverse bears a vague design of rocks and a female figure rising above them in a swirl of clouds. Signed at bottom left, (GB monogram)

The reverse bears legend and small branches of oak and laurel. Around, DAVID LIVINGSTONE CENTENARY; in center field, FOUNDED 1913 / BY / THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA / UPON THE OCCASION OF / THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE BIRTH OF / DAVID LIVINGSTONE / TO BE AWARDED BY / THE AMERICAN GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY / OF NEW YORK / FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF / GEOGRAPHY / IN THE / SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE; in cartouche around bottom, MANUEL VINCENTE BALLIVIAN 1917

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze by Tiffany & Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

Images are courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References:   Baxter 251

The obverse bears a female head (alternatively representing Greater New York or Columbia) crowned with laurel in high relief, facing right.

The reverse depicts a full figure of nude male facing left, standing erect, pouring water from classic vase resting on his shoulder. On Left and right, TO COMMEMORATE - THE COMPLETION / OF THE CATSKILL - AQUEDUCT / AN ACHIEVEMENT - OF CIVIC SPIRIT / SCIENTIFIC GENIUS - AND FAITHFUL LABOR / 1905 NEW - YORK 1917

This is the 35th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

This medal was authorized by the Medal subcommittee of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee and issued by the American Numismatic Society (ANS).

Daniel Chester French won this commission through his acquaintance with Robert de Forest, with whom he served on the board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and who also was the president of the Mayor's Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Committee. The committee was convened to organize the celebrations in honor of the completion of the massive Catskill Aqueduct project. Construction had started twelve years earlier in 1905. By 1917 a 163-mile long system of tunnels and pipes had been completed to transport water from the Catskill Mountains to New York City.

Although the medal is commonly credited to Daniel Chester French, the reverse was actually designed by both French and Augustus Lukeman.

In 1933, Clyde Curlee Trees, the President of Medallic Art Company chose French's beautiful female head as the symbol of his company and obviously gained permission to use the design in many different ways. The head became not only the company logo but also appeared on bronze replica medals that were struck in an unknown quantity. As late as 1979 the Medallic Art Company issued gold-plated struck bronzes in the small diameter.

The original medals measured 76mm in diameter and were cast by the Medallic Art Company in a quantity of 57 bronze and 23 silver pieces. 13 of the silver pieces were supposedly disposed of but other sources report that 12 silver pieces survived.

Later, an unknown number of the smaller 38mm diameter brones were struck by the Medallic Art Company.

References:   ANS 35, Baxter 245, MACo 1917-007, Marqusee 177

References:   HSoNY 1918

The obverse bears portrait of Joan of Arc in armor facing left, holding sword hilt up like a cross, face raised in prayer or contemplation. Around, :: HOMAGE ::+:: TO :+: THE :+: MAID :+: OF :+: FRANCE ::; signed at bottom, A - H

The reverse displays gothic banner of Joan of Arc with other pennants fluttering behind. Around, JOAN OF ARC PARK DEDICATED JANUARY 6, 1919.

This medal was the 39th issue of the American Numismatic Society. Miss Hyatt was chosen by the ANS to execte this beautiful and sensitive medal because she had created the distinctive statue of Joan of Arc on Riverside Drive, overlooking the Hudson River. The Vatican canonized Joan of Arc in the same year, therefore the medal was doubly appropriate and not just representative of the park dedication ceremony.

The medal measures 65mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 1 piece in gold, 74 pieces in silver, 119 pieces in bronze and 1 piece in lead.

Many thanks to the Numismatic Department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generosity and assistance in making the silver variant of this medal available for research.

References:   ANS 39, MACo 1918-008, Marqusee 206

The medal's obverse bears horse-drawn fire wagon racing down a street from right to left. In exergue, FIRE DEPARTMENT / CITY OF NEW YORK

The reverse shows the fire department's coat of arms in oval field, flanked by sprigs of laurel and oak. Around, THE JOHN H. PRENTICE MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR VALOR ·; across, AWARDED TO / WILLIAM M. J. YATES / FIREMAN 1ST GRADE H. & L. CO. No. 4 / 1934; signed at bottom, TIFFANY & CO

This rare medal has been awarded since 1920 for acts of valor by New York City fire fighters. I could not find out much about either Mrs. Prentice or Yates.  Mr. Prentice seems to have been a Brooklyn official. I would love to document Mr. Yates' act of valor that caused him to receive this medal. Maybe someone with connections to the FDNY can help out with information.

My medal has been pretty badly abused. In addition to the gouges, scratches, and nicks, it also had its loop removed.  Normally, the medal is looped and worn on a ribbon.

The circular medal measures 49mm in diameter and was struck in 14kt gold by Tiffany & Co. of New York City.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

The paperweight bears view of Statue of Liberty with cloudy sky. In exergue, GENERAL / SILK IMPORTING / CO. INC. / NEW YORK

The General Silk Importing Company was founded in 1916 when the Klots Throwing Company, a large processor of raw silk, bough the silk importing house Villa Stearns. That company's executive, J. H. Britton, became vide president at Klots and Villa Stearns was renamed to General Silk Importing Company.  After further growth, declining profits and the Great Depression forced the company into bankrupcy in 1932.

The paperweight has two round feet at the upper end and measures 71.2mm x 127.4mm. It was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears female figure guiding a child holding architectural model onward. Across, SCHOOL - ART / LEAGUE - OF / NEW · YORK - CITY; in exergue, FOR · MERIT

The reverse bears a tree or shoot with three branches at top and some new growth at bottom. Across, ART · IN · TRADES / CLUB - MEDAL / AWARD-ED · TO / (inscribed) FRANCES McKENNA; at top, incribed 1926; signed at bottom, G. CECERE

This medal is also called the "Art in Trades Club Medal," after the inscription on the reverse. The circular medal measures 66.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

References:   Marqusee 106