Icarus

The medal's obverse bears Icarus, depicted in αflight, his body stretching upwards at right, wings extended behind him at left; clouds around. Around lower left, SPIRIT ‧ OF ‧ SAINT ‧ LOUIS; on cloud below wing, Ικαςοs / 1927; signed around lower right, V ‧ S ‧ H ‧ SC

The reverse bears the AMSE symbol of globe on fulcrum in clouds, arm extending from right, holding the lever. Below, empty cartouche and FOR  ‧ MERITORIOUS ‧ SERVICE / IN ‧ THE ‧ ADVANCEMENT / OF ‧ AERONAUTICS / MCMXXIX; all surrounded by  ‧ THE ‧ AMERICAN ‧ SOCIETY ‧ OF ‧ / MECHANICAL ‧ ENGINEERS

This very handsome award medal depicts Icarus in a somewhat unusal fashion.  Usually, he is seen flying horizontally or tumbling from the sky.  This medal, as appropriate for an aeronautics award, focuses on his ascent rather than his tragic descent.

The circular medal measures 69.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported but based on its auction appearance, or better, the lack thereof, it is pretty rare. 

References:   MACo 1929-047

The medal's obverse bears astronaut on spacewalk, connected to capsule by coiling umbilical. Around, THe CONQUEST OF SPACE; signed at lower right, Calle/DiLorenzo © 1971

The reverse bears male figure with unraveling wings, looking backwards at massive sun with rays covering entire background. Around top, MAN'S DREAM

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1971-086