Medals Related to Philadelphia

The medal's obverse bears three female figures representing Friendship, Love, and Truth, under masonic eye of providence. Old man at lower left is lent a helping hand while young woman at lower right holds up her baby begging for help. On streamer at bottom, FRIENDSHIP LOVE AND TRUTH

The reverse bears IO.OF / GRAND NATIONAL / CELEBRATION / OF THE / FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / PHILADELPHIA / APRIL 23 1869

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England. At that time, the city was suffering both a yellow fever epidemic and mass unemployment so they dedicated the organization to "Visit the sick, relieve the distress, bury the dead and educate the orphans."

The circular medal measures 51mm in diameter.  No mintage is known.
 

The medal's obverse bears seal of the city of Philadelphia with two female figures flanking shield bearing plow and ship, scales of justice held high above. Above, PHILADELPHIA; below, UNITED STATED OF AMERICA; under seal, MDCCLXXXIX

The reverse bears wreath. Around, LES FRANCAIS DE PHILADELPHIE RECONNAISSANTS; in center field, A / A. THIERS. / POUR SERVICES RENDU / A LA / REPUBLIQUE / FRANCAISE / 5 SEPTEMBRE / 1873.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. I know neither artist nor mint or mintage. Any further information would be welcome.

References:   Baxter 144, Marqusee 142

The medal's obverse bears seated Franklin, facing half right. Around, NATIONAL EXPORT EXPOSITION

The reverse bears wreath and legend, AWARDED / BY THE / NATIONAL / EXPORT EXPOSITION / TO / (engraved Partrick Carter & Wilkins) / ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE / FRANKLIN INSTITUTE / PHILADELPHIA / 1899

The National Export Exposition ran from September 14, 1899 to November 30, 1899 and was intended to provide

It was supported by Congress, various Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, and other corporate interests, as well as the city of Philadelphia and private citizens. In essence, it was an international industrial fair to demonstrate American goods to an international audience, but also to give American manufacturers easier access to international manufacturing technology.

The circular medal measures 50.7mm in diameter and was struck in silver by the August C. Frank Company of Philadelphia.

The medal's obverse bears Daedalus in flight, reaching for a star, his gossamer wings before large sun on star-strewn background; mountains below.  Along left and right edge, DAEDALUS - THE ARTIFICER

The reverse bears the guild's coat of arms with plough and tall ship in oval field, hand holding scales above, and palm fronds flanking. Around, ARTS & CRAFTS - GUILD - PHILADELPHIA; at bottom, MASTER / CRAFTSMAN / MEDAL

The Arts and Crafts movement was a social and aesthetic counterpoint to increasing industrialization and commoditization of work,  Arts and Crafts proponents sought to revitalize ideas of craftsmanship and artistic harmony in the areas of Architecture and Decorative Arts.  The Philadelphia Arts and Crafts Guild traces its roots back to several artist communities that were founded around the turn of the 19th century. The movement was already waning around the time of Workld War I.

The Arts & Crafts Guild of Philadelphia was organized in 1905 and formally incorporated in 1911. An entry in a directory shows the Guild having 115 members in 1914. The medal is unsigned and undated but the history of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Philadelphia makes it likely that it was designed in the late 1900's, maybe the early 1910's. Any further information would be highly welcome.

The octagonal medal measures 53.2mm x 69.9mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure seated on a bench, r., contemplating a canvas held in one hand, brush or pen in the other. Around, PENNSYLVANIA AC-ADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS; at right, FOUNDED / 1805; signed in exergue, H. LYMAN SAYEN

The reverse bears two bound laurel branches flanking inscription, THE / JENNIE SESNAN / PRIZE / IN . MEMORIAM / SARAH / CAZENOVE / ROBERTS / FOUNDED 1902

The Jennie Sesnan Prize was founded in 1902 by Elizabeth W. Roberts, who herself had been a student of the Academy and had won its Mary Smith Prize in 1880.  It was awarded for the best landscape painting at the Academy's annual exhibition and came with a generous moentary award of $100. Ms. Roberts commemorated both her late mother, Sarah Cazenove Roberts, and a model named Jennie Sesnan with whom Ms. Roberts had worked and whom she held in high regard.

The circular medal measures 44.4mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The uniface medal bears bust of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, left. Around top, FERDINAND·VANDEVEER·HAYDEN; under truncation, M·D·C·C·C·LXXXVIII; signed and dated at bottom with (JF monogram ) / MC - MVI

This medal was awarded by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences for recognition of the best publication, exploration, discovery or research in the natural sciences of geology and paleontology. Established in 1888, the bronze medal was accompanied by a cash award of $300 and was awarded every three years.

References:   Marqusee 145

The medal's obverse bears a Native American in full headdress, standing in pose of supplication with arms held out, facing right towards a European sailing ship. Around top, THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED COMMERCE; at bottom, SALVE

Around and across, FOUNDERS SOUVENIR / OF / THIS / NEW KIND OF STORE / JOHN WANAMAKER / PHILADELPHIA / · 1906 · /  THIRTIETH ANIVERSARY

The circular medal measures 30.4mm in diameter and was struck in silver-plated bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's depicts three shields bearing crown, eagle, sword and key, arrayed around cross on bishopric mitre. Below, 1808-1908.

The reverse bears scroll with names of bishops and archbishops who served at the Philadelphia diocese. Around, CENTENNIAL OF THE DIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA. PA. At bottom of centerfield, THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. OF NEWARK, N.J.

The medal measures 50.6mm in diameter and was struck in silver by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.