Medals Related to Philadelphia

The medal's obverse bears kneeling, shrouded female figure laying down wreath at artist's brushes and palette; columns in background. Around, MEMORIAL · TO · CAROL · H · BECK · / · MDCCCCIX · ; signed at bottom right, JJ Boyle

The medal's reverse bears artist's palette and brshes with wreaths at bottom. Across, · THE PENNSYLVANIA · / · ACADEMY · OF · THE · FINE · ARTS · / · ANNUAL · EXHIBITION · / · AWARDED · TO ·

Carol H. Beck (1859-1908) was a student the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Schools from 1879 to 1884, where she studied under Thomas Eakins. She studied in Dresden, and at the Académie Julian in Paris. She returned to PAFA in 1899, where she did additional study under William Merritt Chase. In the same year shw won the Mary Smith Prize for best painting by a Philadelphia woman artist. 

Her brother sponsored the "Beck Gold Medal" in her memory.  It was awarded for the best painting by an American Artist exhibited at the PAFA annual exhibition.  Recipients included John Singer Sargent, Robert Henri, George Bellows, John Sloan and Thomas Hart Benton.

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Philadelphia Mint. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears a young woman seated at a lathe, measuring a die.  Around top, * DIES * (symbol) * AND * (symbol) * MEDALS *, in exergue, · JOS · K · DAVISON'S · SONS · / · PHILA · PA · ; signed at right above exergue, J · E · ROINÉ

The reverse bears a seated young man, working the levers of a panthograph on a statue; model of other statue is waiting to right of workbench. Around, · STATUARY· BAS · RELIEFS · REDUCED · AND · ENLARGED · ; signed at right over exergue, J · E · ROINÉ

This medal was struck in bronze by Joseph K. Davison's and Sons of Philadelphia. It is a redesign of an earlier 1909 medal that bore the Dietsch Brothers name instead of the Davison's name.

References:   Baxter 296

The medal's obverse bears handle of sword, crossbar horizontal and blade pointing down. Across, THE / FENCERS / CLVB OF / PHILA / D-ELPHIA; signed at bottom, 19 (RTM monogram) 14

The reverse is inscribed to FLORA S. FENDER / 1934 / LEFT AND RIGHT; stamped MEDALLIC / ART CO. / NEW YORK

The looped medal measures 29.1mm in diameter (32.1mm with loop) and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1921-027

The medal's obverse bears Independence Hall with sun rays behind, flanked by two branches, thirteen stars above, all within beaded border. Under building, INDEPENDENCE HALL / PHILA, PA.;  around bottom, SOUVENIR OF PHILA, PA.

The medal's reverse bears Liberty Bell. To left and right, 1776 - 1926; around, SESQUI CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / OFFICIAL SOUVENIR

The circular medal measures 31.6mm in diameter. No further information is known to me at this point. Any additional details would be appreciated.

The medal's obverse bears an eagle standing guard over nest with two eggs in front of Independence Hall and rising sun. Signed, ALBERT LAESSLE.

The reverse bears a laurel wreath around central field with rising sun and legend MEDAL OF AWARD. Around, SESQUICENTENNIAL - INTERNATIONAL - EXPOSITION - PHILADELPHIA / 1776 - 1926.

Leassle designed this medal for an exposition on his "home turf" in Philadelphia. He was justly awarded with his own medal in gold.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Baily Banks & Biddle Co., Philadelphia. No mintage is reported.

References:   Marqusee 235

The uniface plaquette bears view of bridge  with ships and riverside industrial buildings. In exergue, COMMEMORATING / THE COMPLETION OF THE DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE / CONNECTING THE CITIES OF / 1921 - PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN - 1926; signed over exergue at left, L. HERMANT

This is the only medal Leon Hermant is known to have done.  It is a very handsome landscape rendering that makes me wish he had done some more.

The rectangular plaquette measures 81.6mm x 52.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-029

References:   MACo 1927-041

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Joseph Pennel, facing right. Around top, JOSEPH · PENNELL; signed and dated at right, SEPTE (JF monogram) MBER / MCMXIX

The reverse bears a coat of arms surrounded by belt with Philadelphia Water Color Club written on it. Around, IOSEPH · PENNELL · MEMORIAL · MEDAL

In the autumn of 1900, a group of dedicated painters founded the Philadelphia Water Color Club to raise the esteem of watercolor in the art world.  At the time, oils and sculpture tended to dominate art exhibitions. Over the decades, the club developed a distinguished collection of works by such greats as Maxfield Parrish, John Singer Sargent, and Pablo Picasso.  In 2000 the club changed its name to "Philadelphia Water Color Society" to reflect its changed nature and scope.

Joseph Pennell was a native Philadelphia artist who created many etchings and posters.  He is probably best-known for having created the poster for the fourth Liberty Loans campaign in 1918.   It shows New York City's harbor under heavy bombardment with the Statue of Liberty partly destroyed.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was first manufactured by the U.S. Mint. In 1949 it turned the dies over to the Medallic Art Company of New York and later medals were struck there. No mintages are reported.

References:   Baxter 159, MACo 1949-008

References:   Marqusee 230

The medal's obverse bears eagle holding sprig of laurel in its beak, shield with star in background. Legend reading AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION / 121ST / ANNIVERSARY / CONVENTION / AUGUST / 7-11 / 2012 / PHILADELPHIA

The reverse bears portrait of David Rittenhouse, slight left, gear wheel and stars in background, his signature along left edge. Signed with artist's JNF monogram at lower right.

David Rittenhouse (1732-1796) was a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, instrument craftsman and public official.  He was a member of the American Philosophical Society and served as the the first director of the U.S. Mint.

The circular medal measures 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The mintage was limited to 100 pieces.