Medals Related to the Zodiac

The uniface medal bears crab as seen from above, pincer claws facing towards upper edge. Between claws, CANCER

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Cancer i s the fourth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Cancer. It spans 90° and 120° celestial longitude. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area on average between June 22 and July 22, and under the sidereal zodiac, the Sun transits this area between approximately July 16 and August 15.

In astrology, Cancer is the cardinal sign of the Water trigon, which is made up of Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio. It is considered a negative sign, whose domicile, or ruling planet, is the Moon. Though some depictions of Cancer feature a lobster, the sign is most often represented by the crab, based on the Karkinos, a giant crab that harassed Heracles during his fight with the Hydra.

Interestingly, at least to numismatists who live and breathe medallic art, this zodiac medal does not have the MACO 1967 copyright that the other medals in the series sport somewhere on the obverse.

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-007

The uniface medal bears nude, almost cherubic twins, each facing towards an edge with their bodies but heads turned towards each other, arms interlocked at center; bold geometric border around.  Across, GEM -INI; at bottom,  © MACO 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits this sign between May 21 and June 21. Gemini is represented by the twins Castor and Pollux. The symbol of the twins is based on the Dioscuri, one mortal and one immortal, that were granted shared half-immortality after the death of the mortal brother (Castor).

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-006

The uniface medal bears lion rampant, tail raised proudly, facing right within bold geometric border.  At top, LEO; in small exergue at bottom, MACO © 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. It comes after Cancer and before Virgo. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area approximately between July 23 and August 22; The sign spans the 120th to 150th degree of celestial longitude.

Leo is a fixed sign along with Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this area on average between July 23 and August 22 each year, and under the sidereal zodiac, the Sun currently transits this area from approximately August 16 to September 15. The symbol of the lion is based on the Nemean lion, a lion with an impenetrable hide. It is a northern sign and its opposite southern sign is Aquarius

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-008

The uniface medal bears kneeling hunter, facing right, in pose of arrow just released Between hunter's face and bow, SAGI- / TTARIUS; at lower left, in tiny letters, © MACO / 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Sagittarius and spans 240–270th degrees of the zodiac. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits this sign between approximately November 23 and December 21. Greek mythology associates Sagittarius with the centaur Chiron, who mentored Achilles in archery.

Along with Aries and Leo, Sagittarius is a part of the Fire Trigon. Its ruling planet is Jupiter.

The circular medal measures 69.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1967-151-012

The uniface medal bears seated nude female figure holding scales in her right hand within geometric pattern border.  Downwards at right side, LIBRA; under crossed feet at bottom, © MACO - 1967

Chambellan's Zodiac medals were issued more than a decade after his death and are probably based on designs he made in the early 1930s when he was working on the RKO Roxy Theater.  The 1960s saw renewed interest in astrology and the signs of the zodiac arising in part from the counter-cultural hippie movement and its subsequent adoption into mainstream culture.

Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac. It spans 180°–210° celestial longitude. Under the tropical zodiac, Sun transits this area on average between September 23 and October 23, and under the sidereal zodiac, the sun currently transits the constellation of Libra from approximately October 16 to November 17.

The symbol of the scales is based on the Scales of Justice held by Themis, the Greek personification of divine law and custom. She became the inspiration for modern depictions of Lady Justice.

The ruling planet of Libra is Venus. Libra is the only zodiac constellation in the sky represented by an inanimate object. The other eleven signs are represented either as an animal or mythological characters throughout history. Libra is one of the three zodiac air signs, the others being Gemini and Aquarius.

The Libra medal has unusually high relief, with the female figure's head rising a full 5mm above the medal's surface plane, effectively doubling the medal's thickness.

My silver variant is engraved on the reverse.  The dedication reads:  TODD H. OVERTON, J.D., M.D. / OCTOBER 12. 1937

The circular medal measures between 69.7 and 69.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintages are reported but based on my experience I believe the silver variant to be very rare.

References:   MACo 1967-151-010

References:   Cal FM-1974

References:   Cal FM-1975

The medal's obverse bears 12 disks with the signs of the zodiac surrounding central disk with sun.

The reverse bears calendar surrounded by four scantily clad maidens, possibly nymphs, with cornucopia, sun, grapes, and tree.  At left bottom, 1978; signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The circular medal measures 76.2mm in diameter and was struck in various metals by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported and I am only speculating that there was a silver variant.  The edition limit for the gold-plated bronze medals was 1,000.

References:   MACo 1977-107, Cal MA-1978

References:   Cal FM-1982