All Medals

The uniface medal bears image of PPG Place in Pittsburgh with cathedral-like structures in background. On right, PPG / PLACE; in exergue, BLOUNT

The edge is marked ©1984 MEDALLIC ART CO. - DANBURY, CT. - BRONZE

Based on the date it is likely that the medal celebrates the completion of the PPG Place development. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on January 28, 1981, and the complex was dedicated on April 11, 1984. The office space opened in August 1983, just two and a half years after the construction began. The gleaming glass and steel structures, known worldwide for their breathtaking design, were developed by John Burgee Architects with the internationally renowned architect Philip Johnson from New York.

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1986-096

The uniface plaquette bears two female figures flanking a medal with trylon and sphere at top and award badge at bottom. Above, THE WORLD'S FAIR / OF 1940 IN NEW YORK; on badge, SPECIAL / AWARD / OF / MERIT

Julio Kilenyi designed the medals for the World's Fair and this plaque is very reminiscent of his works. Elaine Leotti, a researcher who studied the artists who worked for Whitehead & Hoag, attributed this plaquette to him but Harry Waterson, a dedicated Kilenyi specialist, thinks it unlikely.  I have decided to leave the medal unattributed for now, pending further feedback from the specialists.

The plaquette measures 63.5mm x 88.5mm and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.

Both sides bear Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

This is the 13th medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. It was a bonus medal only available through a boxed collectors' set containing the other twelve medals.

The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-013, TToI 13

This medal's obverse bears front-facing eagle in flight over ocean, holding wreath in its talons, between two rows of pylons; Statue of Liberty on horizon under wreath. Above, ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN PROUD / AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HER SONS WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES IN HER SERVICE AND WHO SLEEP IN THE / AMERICAN COASTAL WATER OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN; below, INTO THY HANDS O LORD; under Statue of Liberty, MCMXLI - MCMXLV; signed at lower right, A.MANCA 1963 ©

The reverse bears an eagle in flight, talons clutching a branch of oak in front of mountains under sky with thirteen stars. At left, eternal flame burning on waves with number 4596 beneath. Above, WE SHALL PAY ANY PRICE / BEAR ANY BURDEN - MEET ANY HARDSHIP / SUPPORT ANY FRIEND - OPPOSE ANY FOE / TO ASSURE THE SURVIVAL OF LIBERTY / JOHN F. KENNEDY below around: EAST COAST MEMORIAL NEW YORK DEDICATED MAY 23, 1963. Signed and dated along edge at bottom, ALBINO MANCA 1963

The East Coast War Memorial honors the 4,596 missing American servicemen who lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean while engaged in combat during World War II between 1941 and 1945.

Erected in 1963 in Battery Park, at the southern end of Manhattan and designed by the architectural firm of Gehron and Seltzer, it was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy. The memorial's centerpiece is Albino Manca's massive, 23 feet tall bronze eagle, set on a black granite pedestal. It holds a laurel wreath and sits upon an ocean wave. This is to signify the act of mourning at sea.

The circular medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1963-002

The medal's obverse bears portrait of young Lindbergh, slight right, before sea and sky, sun setting at left. Around upper right, C * LINDBERGH *; across, NEW · YORK - · TO PARIS · IN · / · 33½ HOURS · / MAY 20 · 21 / · 1927 · ; signed above left shoulder, © H

The reverse bears airplane over sea and setting sun, flanked by wings emanating from shell at bottom center. Around top, · · NEW · YORK · TO · PARIS · ; at bottom, · · · c 1927 H · ·

This is one of the more beautiful Lindbergh commemorative medals.  Hinton shows his soft touch in a portrait that reflects both youth and boundless optimism.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver. No mintages are reported though I have only encountered the small bronze and the silver medal once, so they appear to be rarer than the large bronze.

References:   MACo 1932-014, Marqusee 205

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 medal's obverse bears seated young woman binding fasces before outline of the United States. Around, "TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION... AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY"; signed in exergue, E.F.

The reverse bears images of Lincoln and Washington in wreaths above dedication field. In field, NATIONAL ORATORICAL CONTEST / ON THE / CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES / AWARDED BY / THE NEW YORK TIMES / TO / ROGER WOOD / 1931

The National Oratorical Contest grew from a local competition held by the Los Angeles Times in 1923 to a national movement sponsored by the major regional newspapers of the day. Topics had to be related to the U.S. Constitution and prizes were a hefty $1,500 for the winner.  The competition was held annually until 1933.

This medal was issued by the New York Times in the years from 1926 to 1932. Most other newspapers issued variants of a Kilenyi-designed plaquette.  The Times later reused this design for the New York Times Constitution Essay Medal, which took the place of the Oratorical Contest in 1932.

The medal measures 44.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and 14kt gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.  While I have not seen it in silver it probably exists in that metal as well.

References:   Baxter 293, MACo 1926-020-001

The uniface medallion bears bust of Edward Robinson facing right. Around, · EDWARD · ROBINSON · 1923 · ; signed on truncation, P. MANSHIP

Edward Robinson (1858-1931) was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard in 1879.  In the following years he devoted much of his time to studying archaeology abroad, particularly in Berlin and in Greece. He became curator of classical antiquities at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1895 and was promoted to director in 1902.  In 1906 he moved to New York and became assistant director at the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts.  In 1906 he succeeded Caspar Purdon Clarke as director. In this position he and Manship could not help but meet.

The circular medallion measures 94.6mm in diameter and was cast in bronze. I have also seen the medallion in a size of 95.9mm. No mintage is reported.

References:   Murtha 161

The plaque bears Evarts Tracy seated in relaxed pose, l., holding cigarette or pen in one hand.  At left top, EVARTS - TRACY / APRIL - TENTH / MCMXII; signed at bottom right, (HH monogram) / FECIT

Evarts Tracy (1868-1922) was a renowned New York architect who also distinguished himself in World War I.  After commanding a regiment of combat engineers and getting wounded, he was put in charge of camouflage training at the Army Engineer School at Langres. At the end of the war he was in charge of all camouflage sections of the majority of the Allies' western front.  General Pershing recommended him for the Distinguished Service Medal, which he was awarded shortly before his death in 1922.

The relief plaque measures 176mm x 132mm. It is not known how many copies exist.

References:   Baxter 228