All Medals

References:   MACo 1971-187

The medal's obverse bears Abraham Lincoln portrait facing right.

The reverse bears Lincoln's log cabin birth place at left and dome of Capitol building at right, sun between them.  palm frond at left, oak leaves at right. Across, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION / EMANCIPATOR OF A RACE / SAVIOR OF THE UNION / 1909; signed in tiny letters at lower left, THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.

The circular medal measures 50.9mm in diameter and was struck by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Harrison Tweed, right. Signed at left, E. PLATT

The reverse bears signature of Harrison Tweed and date 1966.

Harrison Tweed (1885-1969) was an American lawyer and civic leader. He was born into a wealthy family with strong ties to the legal profession. His father was the general counsel for several large railroad companies and his mother descended from a line of legal and civic leaders in the state of New York. After attending St. Mark's School in Southborough and Harvard University he started working as a lawyer in New York City.  He was a champion for "legal aid" and "equal justice" and was highly influential in legal reforms throughout his career.

The circular medallion measures 88.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

This medal's obverse bears Pegasus in flight above buildings representing historical landmarks in architecture; from left to right, the Sphinx, the Parthenon, the Coliseum, and skyscrapers with two eagles perched on top. The buildings rest on overlapping branches growing from architects' and sculptors' tools in exergue. Around top, NATIONAL - SCULPTURE - SOCIETY; over Sphinx, 3500 B.C.; over Parthenon, 438 B.C., over Coliseum, 80 A.D.; on sky scraper, 20 / CENTURY; above exergue, HENRY HERING / MEMORIAL MEDAL

The reverse bears conjoined eagles, one with wings spread, both perching on plinth; oak branches on both sides. At top, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN / MATT 5:16; across, AWARDED AS A MARK OF DISTINCTION / FOR OUTSTANDING COOPERATION / BETWEEN ARCHITECT AND SCULPTOR; signed in exergue to left and right of plinth, ALBINO - MANCA

The National Sculpture Society's Henry Hering Memorial Award (or Henry Hering Art and Architecture Award as it is now called) was created in 1959 and is awarded for excellence in an architectural project in which the architect collaborated with the sculptor and owner of a site. The medal is not given annually; it is awarded when the circumstance arises. Originally, there were three categories: regligious, monumental, and commercial. The jury is composed of three sculptors and two architects.

The award is named for Henry Hering (1874-1949), a brilliant architectural sculptor who had a studio in New York but whose most famous works are mainly located in the mid-west.

One interesting anecdote about Hering involves a plane crash in 1945. A military B-25 had crashed into the Empire State Building. While most of the wreckage had either embedded itself in the building or fallen to the ground, one engine continued on its way for several blocks and finally ended its voyage in Henry Hering's penthouse, destroying approximately $75,000 worth of work.

This particular medal was awarded for work in the religious category in 1961. The project was the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The recipients were Eugene F. Kennedy, Jr. of Maginnis Walsh & Kennedy (the Boston architect) and Francis Cardinal Spellman representing the Catholic Church (the owner). The same year, Paul Manship won the award in the monumental category, along with Eric Gugler of Gugler, Kimball & Husted for the American war memorial at Anzio-Nettuno in Italy.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Many thanks to Lorraine Burns for the beautiful pictures and the sleuthing involved in tracking down this particular medal's detailed history.

References:   MACo 1959-031

The plaquette's obverse bears woman, holding spade in one hand and laurel crown in other, in midst of flowers. In exergue, GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

The reverse bears empty octagonal field for dedication above oil lamp and oak branches.

The plaquette was obviously issued by the Garden Club of America, but I don't know whether it is used as a membership plaquette or as an award.

The rectangular plaquette measures 36.8mm x 53.2mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. I know neither artist nor mintage and would appreciate information from people who know more about this handsome plaquette.

References:   MACo 1930-001-041, SoM 41

References:   MACo 1928-026

References:   BG 12

The medal's obverse bears dramatic scene of fighting stallions. Signed at lower right, (JOV monogram)

References:   MACo 1988-251, Cal MA-1989

The uniface medallion's obverse bears a frontal bust of Walt Whitman wearing hat and large, unruly beard. Around top, WALT WHITMAN; over shoulder at left MCM XVI / (JF monogram) / MCM XIX

The edge is hallmarked with MEDALLIC ART CO NY BRONZE

Walter "Walt" Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. The medallion commemorates the centenary of his birth.

The medallion measures 82.2mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is not reported.

References:   Baxter 156, MACo 1938-033, Marqusee 157