Medals relating to Commerce

The obverse bears Henry Hudson and sailors on the Halve Maen during the hoisting of some freight onto the ship. Around top, DISCOVERY OF HUDSON RIVER BY HENRY HUDSON A D MDCIX; at lower left, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY; at lower right, HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMM.; in exergue, HALVE MAEN; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

The reverse bears three seated female figures representing Steam Navigation, History, and Commerce; above, portrait of Robert Fulton. In background, views of New York in 1807 and 1909. Below portrait, ROBERT FULTON / 1765 1815; in exergue, FIRST USE OF STEAM NAVIGATION / ON THE HUDSON RIVER / 1807; signed in lower right corner, E FUCHS

This medal, in one of its many variants, is probably one of the most common ANS medals being traded. There are 15 known variants ranging from 1¼in silver-plated to 3in gold and 4in silver. Even the large gold variant had 11 pieces produced! This is probably the most successful ANS medal ever.

This medal was the 23rd official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The offical medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Tiffany & Company of New York as well as Whitehead and Hoag of Newark. The reported mintage for the official ANS issue is 100 pieces in silver but there is a wide range of variants that are listed separately.

References:   ANS 23, Marqusee 186,187

The medal's obverse bears winged female figure holding crown of laurels, standing behind seated metalworker with objects of his profession scattered around him.  Shield with Heeren Brothers "H" logo  leaning against stand with kylix at right. In exergue, 1867 - 1917

The reverse bears first company building at left and present building at right. Around top and across, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / of / HEEREN BROS / AND COMPANY / 1867 / 1917 / MANUFACTURING /JEWELERS & IMPORTERS / PITTSBURGH, PA.

The circular medal measures 78mm in diameter.  No mintage is reported.

References:   ANS 46, Baxter 353, Marqusee 252

The medal's obverse bears woman seated at pedal-driven spinning wheel, Beacon Hill skyline in background. Around top, BOSTON · CHAMBER · OF · COMMERCE; in exergue,  · ART ·  - · IN · INDUSTRY · / · MEDAL · - OF · AWARD · ; signed to right of pedal, RAYMOND · A · /PORTER · SC · / 1926

The medal's reverse is left empty for award dedication.

The medal was struck in bronze by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

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.

The medal's obvese bears a desert scene from a trading caravan with camel at left and group of two Bedouins haggling over a length of cloth; camels in background on sand dune. Signed at bottom right, KILENYI

The obverse bears city with factories in background. In lower half, NATIONAL RETAIL DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION / REPLICA OF MEDALS / AWARDED TO / CARLOS B. CLARK AND LEW HAHN / FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE / TO THE CRAFT / PRESENTED FEBRUARY 7. 1929

Clark and Hahn each received a gold medal that was named to them. Another 18 gold medals were issued over the next 30 years. One gold-plated medal named to Seidel is kjnown to exist. 

Many thanks to Harry Waterson for the detailed information on variants and mintages.

The obverse bears running locomotive with figure of Mercury flying overhead and carrying tray with fruit and bottle; sun rays with date "1930" in background; bolts of lightning emerging from train wheels; all within beaded border; surrounding legend SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM CENTENNIAL / South Carolina 1830 Virginia 1831 Alabama 1832.

The reverse bears cornucopia at center with legend COTTON CORN TOBACCO; all within beaded border; surrounding legend A CENTURY OF SERVICE CARRYING TO MARKET THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH.

This is one of the iconic American medals and is a part of many museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

The medal is struck in bronze and measures 89mm (3 1/2in) in diameter.

References:   MACo 1930-017

The medal's obverse bears portrait of William Fahnestock. Around top, · FAHNESTOCK · & · CO · ; To left, WILLIAM / FAHNESTOCK / FOUNDER; to right, 1881 / 1931; signed above right shoulder, (JSR monogram)

The medal's reverse bears a beautifully detailed street scene of New York's Wall Street. To left, WALL / STREET; to right, 1881; signed at bottom, (JSR monogram)

William Fahnestock (1858-1936) beccame the youngest member of the New York Stock exchange at age 23. A year later, he opened the doors to Fahnestock & Co with his father, Harris C. Fahnestock, at 2 Wall Street. After a series of consolidations and mergers, the firm is now part of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1931-001, Marqusee 355

The obverse bears art deco city scape with factories and skyscrapers surrounding a giant generator building; clouds and sun rays above; house and train engines below. In exergue, * ORDER OF * / MERIT

The reverse bears large silver letter W over palm frond. Around, WESTINGHOUSE AWARD; in lower half, TO / (blank) / WHOM HIS FELLOW / MEN DELIGHT TO / HONOR

The Westinghouse Order of Merit was awarded by Westinghouse Electric Corporation as its highest form of employee recognition. Both management and technical employees were eligible to receive the award.

The cicular medallion has a diameter of 101mm. It was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is not reported.

References:   MACo 1935-035, Marqusee 110