Medals Related to Numismatics and Numismatists

References:   ANS 48

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Sybil Ludington, half-right, next to equestrian statue by Anna Hyatt Huntington. Around, SYBIL LUDINGTON; in exergue, DANBURY STATUE / BY ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON; signed at bottom, TR

The reverse bears two laurel branches. Across, COMMEMORATING / DANBURY / COIN CLUB / 20th / ANNIVERSARY / OCTOBER 1957

The Danbury Coin Club was founded at 8:00 pm on Thursday October 24, 1957. Sixteen people responded to an advertisement in the Danbury News Times calling an open meeting for anyone interested in forming a local coin club in Danbury, Connecticut.

Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) was a heroine of the American Revolution. On the night of April 26, 1777, at the age of 16, she rode to alert militia forces in villages of Putnam County, New York and Danbury, Connecticut, to the approach of the British regular forces. The ride was similar to those performed by William Dawes and Paul Revere, and Jack Jouett. Ludington rode more than twice the distance of Revere and was much younger than the men.

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The plaquette's obverse bears a moneyer producing a coin by striking a die with a hammer. Behind him, representations of rare medals from the ANS collection. Signed and dated at lower right, (JOV monogram / 83)

The reverse bears three panels, arranged vertically. In top panel, a screw press; in bottom panel, a Janvier pantographic lathe making a reduction of V. D. Brenner's Lincoln cent; in central panel at left, 1858; at right, 1983; in middle, THE AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / SOCIETY / (oak leaf) / "parva ne pereant"

This medal was the 54th official issue of the American Numismatic Society in 1983.  It was chosen by an ad-hoc committee which selected from designs submitted by seven different sculptors. Marcel Jovine won the design competition (and a cash award of $3,500) but his original design was rejected by some Council members due to male nudity. 

Jovine submitted an alternative design that did not include the male nudity and that design was accepted, even though some members quibbled that the moneyer looked like he was going to hit himself rather than the die.

The plaquette was struck in bronze, silver and gold by Stefano Johnson of Italy. The mintage is reported as 2 pieces in gold, 100 in silver, and 500 in bronze.  Originally,only 2 gold pieces were produced but Frank Bass' gold piece was lost and so a third piece was struck.

References:   ANS 54

This medal does not have a traditional obverse and reverse. It is cast of two parts, the upper piece being two stylized fingers holding a coin bearing the ANS seal. The upper piece nestles into the base that bears the acronym ANS on its surface.

This medal was the 56th official issue of the American Numismatic Scoiety's member medal series. It was issued as part of the Society's endowment drive in the period from 1986 to 1989.  While bronze variants were for sale to all members at a price of $100, silver variants were only given to donors who contributed at least $5,000 to the Society's coffers.

The irregularly shaped two-piece medal measures approximately 83mm x 82mm and was cast in bronze and silver by the C. A. Brown Foundry. The production quantity is reported as 48 pieces in bronze and 70 in silver.

References:   ANS 56