Brazil

The medal's obverse bears busts of Roosevelt and Alves, slight left. Around, PRES. THEOD. ROOSEVELT / U·S·AMERICA -  : 1906 : - PRES. RODRIGUES ALVES / E·U·BRAZIL; signed at right, (EL monogram)

The reverse bears legend, TERCEIRA / CONFERENCIA / INTERNACIONAL / AMERICANA / RIO DE JANEIRO / BRAZIL / 1906

James G. Blaine, a United States politician, Secretary of State and presidential contender, first proposed establishment of closer ties between the United States and its southern neighbors and proposed international conferences to further that goal. Blaine hoped that ties between the United States and its southern counterparts would open Latin American markets to US trade and prevent European nations from meddling in the Americas.

The Second Pan-American Conference in Mexico had created the Pan-American Railway Committee and tasked it with the creation of a railway connecting the various American republics. Their initial report was presented at this conference and further, more detailed planning took place.

The circular medal measures 45mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medallion's obverse bears allegorical female figure flying towards right over a map of the two Americas, bearing a branch of a leafy plant; streamer with CONCORDIA behind her; border of waves around edge.

The reverse bears two cornucopias above open scroll flanked by male figures standing on winged spheres; figure at left bearing money bag and caduceus, figure at right strand of raw latex or plant fiber and scales of justice; at bottom, ship on wavy ocean, flanked by dolphins. On scroll, TO / COMMEMORATE / THE VISIT OF THE / PRESIDENT ELECT / OF BRAZIL / EPITACIO / PESSOA / TO THE / UNITED STATES / OF AMERICA / MCMXIX; signed at bottom, ·P· ·M·

The medallion commemorates the visit to the United States in 1919 of Dr. Epitacio M. Pessoa, president-elect of Brazil. Dr. Pessoa had been the Brazilian representative at the armistice negotiations in Versailles and on his return he visited the United States. He arrived in New York City, then traveled to Boston and Washington, D.C., where he made ceremonial appearances meant to solidify relations between Brazil and the United States.

On the obverse, the allegorical figure of Concordia symbolizes trade relations and diplomatic ties between the nations. On the reverse, a freighter riding the waves symbolizes the raw materials (rubber, oil, and rope fiber) provided to the United States by its trading partner.

There is a galvano design study for the reverse of this medallion that illustrates powerfully the changes that a medal can undergo from conception to completion. 

The circular medallion measures 80.1mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.

The galvano bears two cornucopias above open scroll flanked by female figures standing on winged spheres; figure at left bearing caduceus, figure at right burning torch; at bottom, two dolphins. On scroll, To commemorate / the visit of / President elect / EPITACIO / PESSOA / of BRAZIL / to the / UNITED STATES / of AMERICA / 1919

This was a design for the reverse of a medal commemorating the visit to the United States in 1919 of Dr. Epitacio M. Pessoa, president-elect of Brazil. Dr. Pessoa had been the Brazilian representative at the armistice negotiations in Versailles and on his return he visited the United States. He arrived in New York City, then traveled to Boston and Washington, D.C., where he made ceremonial appearances meant to solidify relations between Brazil and the United States.

It is fascinating to contrast this design with the one on the finished medallion:  the flanking figures change sex and orientation, they carry different props, a ship is added at the bottom, and the lettering changes.

The galvano measures 79.8mm in diameter.

The medal's obverse bears shoulder-length portrait of Native American woman within central roundel, facing left, surrounded by ornate border of fruit and flowers with four superimposed circular medallions bearing letters "XX", "C", "I", and "A," counter-clockwise.

The reverse bears large flower at center, surrounded by legend within line border, XX CONGRESSO-INTERNACIONAL DE AMERICANISTAS / RIO DE JANEIRO / 1875 BRAZIL 1922

The International Congress of Americanists is an international academic conference for research in multidisciplinary studies of the Americas. Established August 25, 1875 in Nancy, France, the scholars' forum has met regularly since its inception, presently in three year increments, with the exception of World War II. Its meeting location alternates between Europe and the Americas. Congress members come from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, art, education, economy, geography, history, human rights, law, philosophy, linguistics, sociology, and urban studies.

The circular medal measures 61.5mm in diameter and was struck in copper. Neither mintage, nor mint, nor artist are known to me.