Medals Related to Medicine

The medal's obverse bears human body reduced to its muscular structure; incuse stick and ball model of a chemical compound behind it. At bottom, ENDO LABORATORIES, INC.

The reverse bears a view of the Endo Laboratories research facility in Garden City. Around, ENDO LABORATORIES, INC. / GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK

he history of Endo can be traced back to 1920 to a family-run pharmaceutical company originally called Intravenous Products of America, Inc. In 1935 Intravenous Products of America, Inc. changed its name to Endo Products. After being acquired by DuPont in 1970 the company was spun off in 1994 and now acts as the DuPont-Merck's generics division.

The circular medal measures 75.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1964-051

The obverse bears portrait of Andreas Vesalius with his signature to the right.  Signed at left, Albert d'Andrea.

The reverse bears small centaur in abstract wreath. In center field, TENTH / MD / ANNIVERSARY / 1967; around, ANDREAS VESALIUS - SYMBOL OF MEDICINE AND ART

Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) was a Flamish physician and author of "De humanis corporis fabrica," one of the most influential books on human anatomy.  He is often called the founder of modern human anatomy.  He died in debt on the Greek island of Zakynthos after initially surviving a ship wrreck which stranded him there.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-159

The oval medal's obverse bears doctor standing behind boy, hands on his neck and abdomen; behind, USC medical center building. Around, FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE; signed at lower left, ABRAM / BELSKIE / Sc.

The reverse bears seal of the county of Los Angeles. Above, FOUNDED 1878; below, LOS ANGELES / COUNTY / USC / MEDICAL / CENTER

The LA County Medical Center dates back to 1878, when the County of Los Angeles opened a 100-bed hospital on Mission Road to care for Los Angeles’ indigent population. The County affiliated with the University of Southern California (USC) Medical School in 1885 for the provision of care.

On December 7, 1930, Hollywood actress Mary Pickford dedicated the 8-ton cornerstone for a modern Los Angeles County General Hospital on State Street. The building opened in 1933 but was damaged by an earthquake in 1994.  It was finally replaced in 2008.

The distinguished service medal has been awarded since 1967.

The oval medal measures 62.6mm x 82.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-106

The medal's obverse bears bust of Sidney Licht facing left. Around bottom, · SIDNEY · LICHT ·M·D·

The reverse bears staff of Aeskulap with snake in center field; to its left, four symbols in circles; to its right, ASKLEPIOS in greek letters. Around edge; AMERICAN CONGRESS OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE / 1967 PRESIDENT 1968; around inner edge of beaded center field, EDITOR AND HISTORIAN OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE · HUMANIST · EDUCATOR / INTERNATIONALIST · PHYSICIAN · INNOVATOR

Sidney Licht (1908-1979) was born in New York City and practiced at Mount Sinai Hospital, Sea View Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital. He discovered his life's passion in rehabilitative medicine when working with the many World War II veteranswho struggled both physically and mentally with reintegration into civilian life. He and his wife Elizabth became key contributors to the young medical specialty of rehabilitative medicine.

He was a long-time member and served as President of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine from 1967 to 1968. The ACRM awards a prize honoring both Sidney Licht and his wife Elizabeth, who was the publisher of the Physical Medicine Library. The Elizabeth and Sidney Licht Award recognizes excellence in scientific writing in rehabilitation medicine. Only articles presenting potentially significant empirical and theoretical contributions to rehabilitation medicine, and demonstrating soundness of methodology and data analysis are considered for the award.

Paul Manship designed this medal before his death in 1966 and did not live to see it issued. The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1968-147

The uniface medal bears bude female seen from behind. Above, CIBA; at bottom, LOCORTEN® / (FLUMETHASONE PIVALATE)

Ciba stands for Chemische Industrie Basel. It was formed as a dye producer in Switzerland in 1859 and eventually merged with two other chemical/pharmaceutical giants, namely Geigy and Sandoz, to form the multinational giant Novartis. 

Locorten was a drug developed to treat infections of the ear canal.

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

References:   MACo 1970-035

The obverse bears human body with circulatory system over a head facing right. Around, MEDICINE - THE RELIEF OF SUFFERING AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE; signed at lower right, M HIBBIT

The reverse bears same head, this time facing left. Legend completely filling head, THE GREAT / EXPERIMENT / THAT MAN BEGAN / UPON HIMSELF / MEDICINE / IS NOT YET ENDED / NOR WILL IT EVER / BE COMPLETED / 1974

The medal's obverse bears bust of Magnuson, facing. Around upper half, FOUNDER OF THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO; in exergue, PAUL B. / MAGNUSON, M.D. / 1884 - 1968; signed at left, ERG / 1974

The reverse bears heavy lettering over silhouette of the Institute building. Across, PRESENTED / TO HIS FRIENDS / AND ASSOCIATES / BY HIS FAMILY, / COMMEMORATING THE / DEDICATION OF THE / NEW BUILDING OF THE / REHABILITATION INSTITUTE / OF CHICAGO / APRIL 26, 1974

Paul B Magnuson, M.D., was a bone and joint surgeon who continuously sought new treatments and devices for assisting his patients as they faced unique situations presented by their disability. As a physician, Dr. Magnuson saw his duty, not only as curing, but also as restoring a patient "to his family, his job, and his life." He was a champion of the underdog and as an advocate for veterans was the architect of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

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

References:   MACo 1973-203-001

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Felix Marti-Ibañez, facing almost full left. Around, PHYSICIAN · WRITER · HUMANIST / (signature of Felix Marti Ibanez); signed under truncation, J. KISELEWSKI

The reverse bears wreath and legend, FELIX MARTI-IBAÑEZ / · FOUNDER · / 1977 / MD / TWENTIETH / ANNIVERSARY

Dr. Felix Marti-Ibañez was the founder and editor-in-chief of MD magazine from 1957 to 1972. He was a psychiatrist who wanted to create a publication that melded the three facets of a physician's life—the professional, the human being, and the member of society—so that they might "then look at life with the eyes of a scientist and at medicine with the eyes of the artist."

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1976-137

The medal's obverse bears child, facing, legs and feet tied together and feet swaddled in cloth sack; small flowers and shoots next to child. Heavy wreath with fruit in high relief around.

The reverse bears legend CHILDREN'S / ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL / AND / MEDICAL CENTER

Unfortunately, I do not know which Children's Hospital is commemorated by this medal. If anyone can help out, I'd very much appreciate to hear from them.

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1984-089

The medal's obverse bears Aesculap, the ancient Greek god of healing, facing left; above, the serpent, traditional symbol of his power; below, Chiron, the centaur who taught him the art of healing; decorative rosettas around.

The reverse bears a caduceus, embellished with plants found in the Albany area; below, Lamp of Enlightenment from the College's seal. Around top, ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE; around bottom, SESQUICENTENARY - (rosetta) MCMLXXXVIII (rosetta); signed over handle of lamp, (MS monogram)

The circular medallion measures 88.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Roger Williams Mint of Attleboro, Massachusetts. No mintage is reported.