All Medals

The medal's obverse bears the original telephone in its wooden frame. Around, THE ORIGINAL TELEPHONE OF / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

The reverse bears inscription, IN / COMMEMORATION / OF THE GOLDEN / ANNIVERSARY OF / THE INVENTION OF / THE TELEPHONE BY / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL / IN 1876 / WHACH WAS THE / BEGINNING OF THE / BELL SYSTEM

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 and the company resulting from his invention ruled the telephone market as a monopolist until its breakujp was mandated in 1982.  Since then innovations like VOIP (voice over IP) have started posing existential threats to the remaining phone companies.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.

This medal is woefully scarcely documented. Neither designer nor mint are known and I could not find any additional information.  Please contact me if you know anything about this medal.

The medal's obverse bears a crowned hawk perched on a dead pigeon. Around, THE DOVES ELECT - A HAWK THEIR KING

The reverse bears a dog seated on rocky outcropping, l., facing its reflection in rippling water. Around, LOSE NOT THE SUBSTANCE FOR THE SHADOW; signed at bottom, E. AMATEIS ©

Amateis selected the fables for "their enduring timeliness and left the interpretation up to the beholder, as best suits his sociological, political, or economic inclinations."

The two fables depicted are:

The Kite, Hawk, and Pigeons

The Pigeons find themselves persecuted by the Kite, made choice of the Hawk for their Guardian. The Hawk set up for their protector; but under the countenance of that Authority, makes more havoc in the Dovehouse in two Days than the Kite could have done in twice as many months.

The story's moral: Tis a dangerous thing for People to call in a powerful and ambitious Man for their Protector; and upon the Clamour of here and there a private Person, to hazard the whole Community.

A Dog and a Shadow

As a Dog was crossing a River with a morsel of Food in his Mouth, he saw (as he thought) another Dog under the Water, upon the very same adventure. He never consider'd that the one was only the Image of the other, but out of Greediness to get both, he chops at the Shadow, and loses the Substance.

The story's moral: All covet, all lose; which may serve for a Reproof to those that govern their Lives by Fancy and Appetite, without consulting the Honour and Justice of the Case.

This medal was chosen as the 21st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. It measures 73mm in diameter and has a reported mintage of 921 pieces in silver-plated bronze. Of the 700 authorized silver medals a reported 100 were struck in the 1970's.

References:   MACo 1930-001-021, Marqusee 7, SoM 21

References:   MACo 1971-187

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 paperweight bears view of Statue of Liberty with cloudy sky. In exergue, GENERAL / SILK IMPORTING / CO. INC. / NEW YORK

The General Silk Importing Company was founded in 1916 when the Klots Throwing Company, a large processor of raw silk, bough the silk importing house Villa Stearns. That company's executive, J. H. Britton, became vide president at Klots and Villa Stearns was renamed to General Silk Importing Company.  After further growth, declining profits and the Great Depression forced the company into bankrupcy in 1932.

The paperweight has two round feet at the upper end and measures 71.2mm x 127.4mm. It was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure holding lyre at left and seated female figure with baby girl at her breast to his right,. Around, · AMORIS ·  - · TRIUMPHUS · - · MCMXIII ·; all within boldly beaded border.

The reverse bears stork within boldly beaded border. Around top, · IN · LOVE · ; under body of stork, · IS-AB-EL ·  & · / · P-AUL · MA-NSHIP · / · DEC · 22 ·

This medal celebrates the birth of Paul's first child, Pauline Frances Manship.  She was born just before Christmas in 1913 and, between the holidays and a newly born child, Manship waited a few days before he created this medal. According to Murtha, it dates to 1914.

The circular medal measures 74.6mm in diameter and was cast in bronze.  It is not known how many pieces were cast.

References:   Murtha 33

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Albert Ehlebert Ebert, quarter left; laurel wreath around bottom. Around top, ALBERT ETHELBERT EBERT; across, 1840 - 1906

The reverse bears wreath partially showing through gaps in inscription field. Around, AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION - ORGANIZED 1857 INCORPORATED 1888; across, EBERT PRIZE / AWARDED TO / (engraved) LESTER F. HOYT / 1926

Albert Ethelbert Ebert (1840-1906) was born in Bavaria but came to the U.S. as a one year old. His family settled in Chicago. He apprenticed with the pharmacists to learn not just the selling of ready-made remedies but also the German-style compounding. He studied Pharmacology first in Chicago, then In Philadelphia and finally in Munich, where he also studied Chemistry. He represented the American Pharmaceutical Association at conferences abroad and established the Ebert Prize in 1873. The Ebert Prize, the oldest pharmacy award in the U.S., is awarded for the best essay or communication containing original investigation of a medical substance in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Lester F. Hoyt and J. A. Handy won the award in 1926 for their study of "Diethylphtalate"

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter. Neither maker nor mintage are reported.

The medal's obverse bears kneeling female representing Friendliness, with arms outstretched at aerial view of fair grounds. Around, incuse, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST EXPOSITION / LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA 1928; in exergue, FRIENDLINESS;

The reverse bears art-deco styled winged female wearing Victory crown and holding blank cartouche for inscription. Signed at lower left, R. N. Burnham

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-031

References:   BG 12