Medals Related to War

The medal's obverse bears young woman, r., holding staff with furled American flag. Around, FOR GOD AND COUNTRY / SEMPER / FIDELIS; signed and dated to left of woman, (RTM monogram) / 1925 / ©

The reverse bears American eagle over cartouche and American Legion seal. In cartouche, AMERICAN LEGION / SCHOOL AWARD / COURAGE CHARACTER SERVICE / COMPANIONSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

The American Legion was formed in February 1919 by three officers of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris. Congress chartered the organization in September of the same year and the group became very influential, playing the leading role in drafting and passing the so-called "GI Bill."

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-046

References:   ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

The medal's obverse bears view of Connecticut building at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia.Around top, CONNECTICUT STATE BUILDING; in exergue, SESQUI-CENTENNIAL / PHILADELPHIA / 1776 (bell) 1926

The reverse bears statue of Nathan Hale at left, decorated shield with Connecticut coat of arms at top right. Across, "I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE / BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR / MY COUNTRY" / NATHAN HALE / PATRIOT-MARTYR / CONNECTICUT / 1755 / 1776; at left edge,in tiny letters, WHITEHEAD-HOAG

Nathan Hale (1755-1776) was an American soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British and executed. Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut.

The circular medal measures 28.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery's Numismatics Department for their support and assistance in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   HK 456

This medal's obverse bears portrait of Smith facing left.

The reverse bears text. Around, MERRIT · HAVILAND · SMITH ·; in center, ENGINEER · FOR / 40 · YEARS · OF · THE / WATER · SUPPLY · OF / THE · CITY · OF · NEW · YORK / 1862 (shell) 1926 / · COLONEL · OF · / ARTRILLERY · IN / THE · GREAT · WAR

Merrit Haviland Smith was born on May 21, 1862 in New York City. After an education in public schools and additional private tutors he graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College with a degree in civil engineering in 1880. After three years with the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad he joined the New York City Department of Public Works where he worked for the rest of his civilian life. In addition to his service as an Artillery Colonel in World War I, he also served with the New York National Guard in Puerto Rico from 1898 to 1899. He died in 1926.

This medal appears to be a copy of the bronze plaque erected in his memory at Kensico Dam shortly after his death in 1926.

The circular medal measures 50.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-033

The obverse bears man leaning on plow, gazing right toward military cemetery. To left and right, MAN - SEEKS / TO TURN - FROM THE / SAVAGERY - OF WAR; in exergue, 1936 / ©

The reverse bears winged female figure in flight over mountains, holding olive branch. In exergue, PEACE

Stewart's Message from the Artist was very brief:

"In arriving at the subject matter for a contemporary medal, I was guided by the belief that man's voice of protest against war is growing from and inaudible whisper to a resounding concordance, which may bring 'between all men peace and good fellowship.'"

The message was deeply felt and widely shared, yet 1936 was already giving a preview of the violence that was to engulf the world within a few years: Italy concquered Ethiopia, civil war raged in Spain, Japanese aggression against China, the Arab revolt against the British, and of course Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland were all portents of a world at strife.

This medal was chosen as the 14th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936. It measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its mintage is reported to be 968 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-014, Marqusee 371, SoM 14

The obverse bears five nude youths bearing father's bier. The youngest carries a laurel wreath. Around, IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS; at lower left, BEACH / © 1937.

The reverse bears a gaunt father carrying son's body from the battlefield as vultures circle. Around, IN WAR THE FATHERS BURY THEIR SONS.

The brochure which acommpanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"The tought of the medal is a simple, universal one when men pause to think straight; for that reason I have designed the medal as of no particular period. The Greeks probably put it most tersely, 'In Peace the Sons bury the Fathers, in War the Fathers bury the Sons.' Are our young men to be buried almost before mature manhood, under long rows of stone crosses, or are they to round out their lives and in turn be buried in reverence by their sons in peace? A thought to keep well before our vision as present war clouds again surround us."

Chester Beach put it well but what were the old and the young men to do when young men in other countries were being led towards war by their leaders?

This medal was chosen as the 16th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the reported production quantity of this medal is 941 in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-016, Marqusee 51, SoM 16

The obverse bears kneeling mother with child cowering before Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in sky above; serpent-like gas mask at her knee, castle and ancient ruin in background. In exergue, THE OLD WORLD / 1939; in lower field, E. McCARTAN / ©

The reverse bears mother in 1930s dress with book and child, basket of flowers by her knee, skyscrapers left, forst right, under radiant sun. In exergue, THE NEW WORLD / 1939

At the time this medal was being designed the situation on the European continent had deteriorated so much that all-out war seemed likely. America seemed far-removed from the insecurities and problems that the old world was facing. Americans looked over the Atlantic and were very much disinclined to get involved in yet another Great War. As McCartan wrote in his "From the Artist":

"The broad Atlantic Ocean thankfully isolates is from forces which destroy life and liberty and which impede the normal pursuit of happiness."

Of course, it did not turn out quite the way McCartan and many fellow Americans had hoped. America officially entered World War II in 1941 after already having provided substantial material assistance to its European Allies.

This medal was chosen as the 19th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1939. It measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 943 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

References:   MACo 1930-001-019, Marqusee 259, SoM 19

The reverse depicts Poland Exhibit bilding at World's Fair surrounded by two trees. In exergue, REPUBLIC OF POLAND / EXHIBITION / NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR / 1940

Ignace Jan Paderewski was one of the most famous pianists of his age and an inspiration to Polish nationals. In addition to being a world-renown pianist, he was also famous for his wit. One anecdote recounts how he was introduced to a polo player with the words:

"You are both leaders in your spheres though the spheres are very different."

He replied:

"Not so very different. You are a dear soul who plays polo, and I am a poor Pole who plays solo."

Kilenyi admired Paderewski and, when he was retained to design a medal symbolizing the friendship between the United States and Poland, he picked his likeness for the obverse. Because Paderewski was unable to sit for him and photos and drawings were not sufficient Kilenyi watched Moonlight Sonata, a movie featuring the famous pianist, to capture Paderewski's essence.

The medal's obverse bears St. George slaying a dragon with Swastika on its wing. Around, ·· SAINT GEORGE ·· / OF ENGLAND

The reverse bears hand emerging from stylized waves for a "thumbs-up"; laurel branch across. Around top, FORWARD TO VICTORY; signed and dated at bottom, © 1941 MK

This medal was issued for the British-American Ambulance Corps. A companion piece was executed by Korbel and Manship and combined this medal's obverse with a Manship designed American Eagle.

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1941-036-001

The medal's obverse, designed by Mario Korbel, bears St. George slaying a dragon with Swastika on its wing. Around, ·· SAINT GEORGE ·· / OF ENGLAND; signed under dragon, MK

The reverse, designed by Paul Manship, bears a displayed American Eagle flanked by two stars. Around, · UNITED · WE · STAND · / · AMERICA ·; signed under eagles foot on right, PM

This medal was issued for the British-American Ambulance Corps. A companion piece executed entirely by Korbel combined this obverse with a reverse utilizing a thumbs-up — forward to victory motif.

The circular medal measures 38.5mm in diameter and is holed for supension.

References:   MACo 1941-036-02