Medals Related to New York City

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Thomas A. Buckner. Around top, NEW YORK LIFE INS. CO.; to left and right, 1880 - 1920; around bottom, THOMAS A. BUCKNER

The medal's reverse bears legend PRESENTED FOR / DISTINGVISHED SERVICE / IN THE FIELD / DVRING THE / COMPLIMENTARY TESTIMONIAL / IN HONOR OF / VICE-PRESIDENT BVCKNER'S / 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH / NYLIC / FEBRVARY - MARCH / 1920

The obverse image depicts the Farnham monumen of Simon Bolivar. Around, MONVMENTO · ERIGIDO · EN · LA · COLINA · BOLIVAR · DEL · CENTRAL · PARK · DE · NVEVA · YORK · E · INAVGVRADO · EL · 19 · DE · ABRIL · DE · 1921; signed on exergue, SALLY JAMES FARNHAM / ©

The reverse shows two allegorical figures representing the two American continents united in the causes of Liberty and Justice, rising sun to their left. Around, "LA · GLORIA · ESTA · EN · SER · GRANDE · Y · EN · SER · VTIL - BOLIVAR"; over sun, EL · LIBERTADOR / 1783 - 1830

Farham created this medal to commemorate the dedication of her best-known work, the equestrian Simon Bolivar in New York's Central Park.

The Whitehead and Hoag Company, as well as the Medallic Art Company each struck versions of this 2 1/2 inch medal. Farnham exhibited it at the 1923 annual exhibition of the National Academy of Design.

Many thanks to the creator of sallyjamesfarnham.org for the beautiful images and the associated information.

References:   MACo 1921-040, Marqusee 137

The obverse bears Art Deco image of Bellerophon with lyre riding winged pegasus above sun. Around, ART DIRECTORS CLUB / INCORPORATED 1920.

The reverse bears painter with palette and brush in center. Around center, AWARDED FOR SPECIAL MERIT. Around edge, laurel wreath with (PM monogram) at bottom.

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

Louis Pedlar founded the Art Directors' Club of New York in 1920 in response to the uncertain relationship between advertising art and fine art. Pedlar assembled a group of art buyers, art department managers and layout artists to ponder whether advertising art could be judged by the same stringent standards as fine art.

Obviously the answer was "yes" because Paul Manship was asked to create a medal to be used as an award. Awards were given annually in the areas of black-and-white illustration, color illustration, oil painting, and poster art, though not always in all areas.

An article published in Printers' Ink Monthly outlines the process that was used:

"All mediums were given consideration; black-and-white, flat color, oil painting and decorative design. A rigid standard of selection was enforced, and the 300 pictures shown, selected from many thousands submitted, represented the best there is in advertiding design.

Both the organization and the award still exist but the medal was replaced by a modern cube in the 1970's.

The medal measures 54mm (2 1/8in) in diameter and were manufactured by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1921-07, Murtha 139

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Patrick Cardinal Hayes facing three quarters left. Around, + PATRICK · CARDINAL · HAYES + / APRIL · 30 · 1924

The medal's reverse bears the coat of arms of the diocese of New York. Around, + CONGRATULATORY · BANQUET + / CATHOLIC CLUB; signed TIFFANY & CO.

Patrick Joseph Hayes (1867-1938) was born in Manhattan as the son of poor Irish immigrants. He rose quickly through the church hierarchy and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by pope Pius XI on March 24th, 1924.

This medal was issued as a commemorative of an April 30th dinner held by the Catholic Club of New York to celebrate the occasion.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by Tiffany and Co. of New York. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears bust of John F. Hylan in oval center field, flanked by Statue of Liberty and city hall. Under bust, JUHN F. HYLAN MAYOR; in exergue, 1924

The reverse bears New York City seal; around, (oak leaves) THE CITY OF NEW YORK (oak leaves) / DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

John Francis Hylan (1868-1936) was the 96th mayor of New York City. From small beginnings in the Catskills he quickly rose through the political ranks and was first elected Mayor in 1917.  As Mayor of the hosting city, he played an important role at the Democratic National Convention of 1924. He served two terms before losing to Jimmy  Walker in the 1924 elections.

The octagonal medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1924-027

This medal's obverse bears nude male figure restraining rearing winged steed. Signed at right above exergue, (RCW monogram)

The medal's reverse bears facade of Brown & Bigelow building. At top of building, THE HOVSE OF QVALITY / BROWN & BIGELOW; zodiac symbols all around. Signed in exergue, RCWAKEMAN

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

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., as it is now known, was founded in New York City in the year 1914. The twelve original founders were Ernest Albert, Paul Cornoyer, Marshal Fry, Edmund Greacen, Arthur Powell, Walter C. Hartson, William R. Leigh, Frederick Mulhaupt, G. Glenn Newell, H. Ledyard Towle, H. A. Vincent and Jules Turcas. Its goal is to further the cause of contemporary American artists through its Annual National Open Exhibition in New York City, open to all members and non- members, demonstrations, lectures, awards at the Annual, slide program, a newsletter mentioning all activities of the Members and Associate Members and other cultural activities.

I am not quite sure how Brown & Bigelow came to be commemorated on the medal's reverse, but they likely were a big financial supporter of the organization or possibly underwrote the medal's production. The earliest reference to a Brown and Bigelow Award Medal that I could find dates to 1929.

The medal measures 63mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-042

References:   ANS 46, Baxter 353, Marqusee 252

The paperweight bears view of Wall Street in New York City; underneath, · 55 · WALL - STREET · 52 ·; at bottom, burning torch flanked by two oval panels connected by streamer; left panel with heraldic imageery surrounded by THE NATIONAL CITY BANK / OF NEW YORK; right panel, view of building subtitled NATIONAL CITY BANK / BUILDING, surrounded by THE NATIONAL CITY COMPANY / NEW YORK; at bottom, MAY 1ST - 1928; signed at right bottom of street scene, KILENYI

The paperweight has two rounded feet on the reverse's top corners. It measures 71.8mm x 100.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

This medal's obverse bears portrait of Smith facing left.

The reverse bears text. Around, MERRIT · HAVILAND · SMITH ·; in center, ENGINEER · FOR / 40 · YEARS · OF · THE / WATER · SUPPLY · OF / THE · CITY · OF · NEW · YORK / 1862 (shell) 1926 / · COLONEL · OF · / ARTRILLERY · IN / THE · GREAT · WAR

Merrit Haviland Smith was born on May 21, 1862 in New York City. After an education in public schools and additional private tutors he graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College with a degree in civil engineering in 1880. After three years with the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad he joined the New York City Department of Public Works where he worked for the rest of his civilian life. In addition to his service as an Artillery Colonel in World War I, he also served with the New York National Guard in Puerto Rico from 1898 to 1899. He died in 1926.

This medal appears to be a copy of the bronze plaque erected in his memory at Kensico Dam shortly after his death in 1926.

The circular medal measures 50.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-033