Rochester, New York

The unsigned uniface medal bears laughing writer spearing a fat industrialist through his belly with a giant ink pen. At top, APRIL 22ND / 1911; at bottom, ROCHESTER NEWS WRITERS' CLUB

The reverse is empty except for mint mark BASTIAN BROS. / CO. / ROCHESTER N.Y.

The Rochester News Writers' Club was organized sometime around 1902. It held regular weekly meetings and an annual meeting called a "Roastfest,"

On Aprill 22, 1911, it held its eighth Roastfest, which was a political vaudeville show for 350 invited guests and is commemorated by this medal. In all likelihood, this medal was a party favor for the guests.

The scalloped round measures approximately 60mm in diameter and was struck in copper by Bastian Brothers of Rochester, New York. No mintage is reported but can be assumed to be around 350.

The medallion's obverse bears figure in bedouin garb, hand over eyes as if to shield them from the sun. Across, TO / GREATER VISION THROUGH / OPTICAL SCIENCE / BAUSCH / & LOMB; around bottom, · CONTINUOUS · CONTROL · OF · EVERY · PROCESS · THROUGH · GLASS · MAKING · AND · SCIENTIFIC · COMPUTATION · TO · FINISHED · PRODUCT · ; signed and dated at bottom over rim, C.A. HAFNER 1919

The reverse bears legend only; across, THIS MEDALLION WAS / CREATED FOR / BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. / OF ROCHESTER, N.Y. / BY / FRANK SEAMAN INCORPORATED / MERCHANDISING AND / ADVERTISING SERVICE / NEW YORK; at bottom over rim, GORHAM CO.

This is a simple and beautiful corporate advertising medal that reminds me a little bit of Daniel Chester French's great "Mourning Victory," even though the subject matter is totally different.

The circular medallion measures 89.2mm in diameter, 9mm in thickness, and weighs in at a massive 507g. It was manufactured by the Gorham Manufacturring Company of Providence, Rhode Island. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to Igor A. Osipov for identifying the artist based on the tiny signature that I could not make out on my medal and providing me with the medal's weight.  My scale only goes to 500g...

The uniface medal bears portraits of John J. Bausch and Henry Lomb, their names on banner below. Around, within beaded border, 75th ANNIVERSARY BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. ROCHESTER, N.Y.; under busts, FOUNDERS / 1853 - 1928; signed at right truncation, A.A. KOLB