Medals by University

References:   MACo 1916-014

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure, kneeling, facing right, holding bow in left hand, cloak draped over arm; heavily beaded border around. At left, TO KAΛΛINIKON.

The reverse bears Roman helmet with horse design. Across, YALE - UNI-/VERSITY · / HENRY · ELIAS - HOWLAND / MEMORIAL MEDAL

Yale University's Henry Howland Memorial Prize was created in 1915 for a "citizen of any country in recognition of some achievement of marked distinction in the field of literature or fine arts or the science of government." The idealistic quality of the recipient's work is an important factor in his selection.

The award was established in honor of Henry Elias Howland (1835–1913), a member of the Yale class of 1854, by a donation of $15,000 by his children Charles P. Howland (Yale 1891), Dr. John Howland (Yale 1894), and Frances Howland. The prize has generally been awarded every two years. Henry Elias Howland was a Justice and a member of the Yale Corporation. He also served as President of the Yale Club in New York City and the Descendants of the Mayflower organization.

The obverse legend TO KAΛΛINIKON might refer to a battle between the Byzantine empire and an invading Persian army near the city of Kallinikon. General Belisarius saved the day by crossing the Euphrates on boat to rally fleeing Roman troops and turn the tide of battle.

The circular medal measures 72.9mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the Numismatics department of the Yale University Art Gallery for their generosity and support in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   MACo 1917-018

The obverse bears line of steel-helmeted doughboys, rifles in hand, with bayonets fixed, about to go over the top. To right, FOR / HUMANITY / 1918.

The reverse bears imaginary portrait of Col. Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams College, on horseback, in the uniform of a Continental Army officer. Around top, E LIBERALITATE E WILLIAMS ARMIGERI 1793; at bottom, THE WILLIAMS MEDAL;

Edge engraved to GOODRICH C. SCHAUFFLER PRIV.

The official description for the medal's reverse is actually a bit incorrect. The medal depicts Williams at Lake George in 1755, so he is in the uniform of a French and Indian War officer, not a Continental officer.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. The college awarded a total of 1726 pieces to Williams men who served in World War I.

References:   Baxter 320, MACo 1918-004, Marqusee 165

The octagonal medal's obverse bears bearded male figure rendered in Assyrian style holding scepters or staffs in each hand, seated on ornamented chair, facing right. To his right, arranged in rhombic
shape, (kuneiform) / Α Ρ / Χ Α Ι / Ο Λ Ο / Γ Ι Α / (kuneiform); signed in half circle under bottom kuneiform, A LAESSLE ∙; all surrounded by ornamental border combining Greek, Egyptian, and Assyrianstyles; all bordered by raised rim.

The reverse bears two stylized branches flanking legend, THE / UNIVERSITY ∙ OF / PENNSYLVANIA /
FOR MERIT IN ARCHI / TECTURAL ORNAMENT / 1938 / BRYDEN BORDLEY HYDE

Bryden Bordley Hyde (1914-2001) was a Baltimore architect who became well-known for his efforts in preservation. In 1961 he took apart his family's 22-room, mid-19th-century home, Evesham, and moved it from Govans to Gibson Island. When demolition threatened a Bladensburg mansion built in 1749 and once owned by Dr. David Ross, a surgeon in George Washington's army, Hyde helped dismantle it and rebuild it in Cockeysville. He stuck the 22,000 original bricks back together with mortar made with a historically accurate additive: oyster shells. Both projects brought him awards from the Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

He fought in World War II as a captain in the 8th Armored Division and was an avid collector of antiques, a hobby he managed to pursue, according to family lore, even under enemy shelling.

Albert Laessle created a little gem with this medal.  He married the medal's design perfectly to its purpose. While no mintage is reported, the bronze variant seems to be pretty rare. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is in posession of a silver variant that came from Albert Laessle's family and is probably even rarer.

The octagonal medal measures approximately 51mm x 51mm and was struck in bronze and silver by Jos. K. Davison of Philadelphia.

Many thanks to Peter James Fowler who took the beautiful images of the bronze medal. He runs two eBay stores at jamcupboard and woodenships7.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles William Eliot, right. Around top, CHARLES WILLIAM ELIOT

The reverse bears wreath. At top, 1924; in center field, "THE INDIVIDUAL / FINDS THAT / BY SERVING / OTHERS HE BEST / SERVES HIMSELF"; signed above bottom of wreath, © W · CLARK - NOBLE · Sc·

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was one of Harvard University's long-serving presidents. The quote on the medal's reverse is from an essay he entitled "The Happy Life," in which he attempted to provide moral and philosophical guidance, particularly to young people.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of bespectacled Charles W. Eliot, facing left. To his right, Charles W. / Eliot; signed around bottom left, KILENYI

The reverse bears two laurel branches crossed over Harvard's book. Across center field, REPLICA / OF / MEDALLION / EXECUTED BY / J.F. NEWMAN / INCORPORATED / NEW YORK

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was selected as Harvard's president in 1869. He transformed the provincial college into one of the most famous universities in the world. Eliot served until 1909, having the longest term as president in the university's history.

Harry Waterson, the Kilenyi specialist, records this medal as a variant of a medal that's part of the Storer reference, catalogued as Storer1910a.  That medal has the subject's name at the top and the artist's signature in the right field.

The circular medal measures 41.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by J.F. Newman, Inc. of New York. No mintage is reported.

The plaquette's obverse bears conjoined busts of Stockton, Rush, and Witherspoon, facing left. Below, ~ STOCKTON ~ RUSH ~ WITHERSPOON ~ / ~ To ~ commemorate ~ the ~ signing ~ of ~ the ~ / ~ DECLARATION ~ of ~ INDEPENDENCE ~

The reverse bears Nassau Hall with trumpet-playing angel flying above and Princeton seal below. To right of seal, ~ Nassau~ Hall ~ 1776 ~ / ~ PRINCETON ~ 1926 ~; signed faintly at bottom right, G. Cecere

The plaquette measures 89.4mm x 61.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-030, Marqusee 105

The medal's obverse bears a portrait of Goodnow, facing right. Signed on truncation, M. Miller sc.

The reverse bears the Johns Hopkins University seal framed by ivy. Across lower half, TO / FRANK · JOHNSON · GOODNOW / PRESIDENT · 1914-1929 / FROM · HIS · COLLEAGUES / JUNE · 11 · 1929

Frank Johnson Goodnow (1859-1939) was an educator and legal scholar. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Amherst College and Columbia Law School. After graduation he was offered a position in the School of Political Science on the condition that he prepare himself with a year of study abroad.  He met that requirement by enrolling at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris and at the University of Berlin. After teaching for more than two decades, assisting with the drafting of a new charter for Greater New York, and drafting two consitutions for China, he became president of Johns Hopkins University in 1914. For the next fifteen years he worked on improving Johns Hopkins' financial position and finally retired in 1929.

The circular medal measures 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1929-069