All Medals

The obverse bears upper body of muscular worker with short-sleeved shirt unbuttoned, right arm across body in dynamic pose. At lower left, COURAGE

The reverse bears rising sun over stylized wave-framed horizon at bottom. Above, DEDICATED / to all / those who have / the courage to / face adversity / with a conquering / spirit

This plaque holds one of Fairbanks' most iconic images: the heroic worker, facing whatever challenges the day might bring with determination and courage. It is a very 1930's motif, executed beautifully and dynamically. In some ways, it is very reminiscent of Communist imagery. Taken out of context, it might well be an image from a Soviet medal praising the "heroic socialist worker doing his part to fulfill the ten-year plan." Regardless, it is a beautiful plaquette and definitely in my list of favorite medals.

This plaque measures 60mm x 90mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1933-018

The medal's obverse bears giant Colossus statue straddling harbor entrance with ship sailing underneath; view of harbor and island behind. Signed on left foundation, DAB

The reverse bears calendar panel on sail of Greek sailing vessel; birds in sky. At top, 2003

The Colossus of Rhodes calendar medal was the sixth issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was probably designed by Mark Frost and certainly sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand. 

The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported.  The bronze pieces originally sold for $34.95, the silver pieces for $169.

References:   Cal MA-2003

This medal's obverse bears Mercury at left, cornucopia at his feet, gazing upon industrious scene with modern jet, ship, and bales and barrels. Around, 125TH ANNIVERSARY S.E.L. MADURO & SONS, INC. - 1837 - CURACAO · N · A · ~ 1962

The reverse bears front facing bust of founder before seascape with anchor to his left and dolphin to his right. Around, S · E · L · MADURO FOUNDER - · 24TH JANUARY 1837 ·

The company was established by Salomon Elias Levy Maduro in 1837. He started his own ship's agency and bunkering services company in the port of Curacao. During the years that followed his sons joined him in the business. Under the name of S.E.L. Maduro & Sons it evolved into a holding company with interests in real estate, travel and leisure activities, and a variety of services related to the shipping and transportation industry.

This medal is a reprise of a 1937 medal, also designed by Ruotolo, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of S.E.L. Maduro.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1961-079

References:   Murtha 469

The medal's obverse bears eagle, about to launch itself into the air, broken chain links at its talons.

The reverse bears two-line maker's mark: TOWLE / SOM © 1977

This paperweight is part of a small series of promotional items that were manufactured in the 1970's. The obverse sides of some of the earlier, more popular Society of Medalists medals were taken and issued as paperweights. The attempt proved commercially unsuccessful.

The circular paperweight measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears conjoined busts of Walter H. Beech and Olive Ann Beech.  Around top, BEECHCRAFT LEGION OF HONOR; to left and right of busts, WALTER H. / BEECH - O. A. / BEECH; around bottom, 1932 CO-FOUNDERS / Beech Aircraft Corporation

The reverse bears (B Beech Aircraft logo). Around top, FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE; below logo, AWARDED TO

This medal is a reworking of an earlier Beechcraft medal celebrating the company's 25th anniversary.

The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1966-070

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure seated on a bench, r., contemplating a canvas held in one hand, brush or pen in the other. Around, PENNSYLVANIA AC-ADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS; at right, FOUNDED / 1805; signed in exergue, H. LYMAN SAYEN

The reverse bears two bound laurel branches flanking inscription, THE / JENNIE SESNAN / PRIZE / IN . MEMORIAM / SARAH / CAZENOVE / ROBERTS / FOUNDED 1902

The Jennie Sesnan Prize was founded in 1902 by Elizabeth W. Roberts, who herself had been a student of the Academy and had won its Mary Smith Prize in 1880.  It was awarded for the best landscape painting at the Academy's annual exhibition and came with a generous moentary award of $100. Ms. Roberts commemorated both her late mother, Sarah Cazenove Roberts, and a model named Jennie Sesnan with whom Ms. Roberts had worked and whom she held in high regard.

The circular medal measures 44.4mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-053

The obverse bears likeness of Alexander Edward Duncan. Around, COMMERCIAL CREDIT COMPANY / ALEXANDER EDWARD DUNCAN - FOUNDER; to left and right of portrait, 1912 / 1937; signed at lower right (HS monogram).

The reverse bears male nude with horn of plenty, seated, beholding skyline of New York City and sun on horizon. Around, $300,000 - 1912 INVESTED CAPITAL 1937 - $63,500,000; In lower field, ALEXANDER E. DUNCAN - JAMES C. FENHAGEN / WILLIAM H. GRIMES - R. WALTER GRAHAM / ELI C. WAREHEIM - SYLVAN H. AUCHHEIMER / HENRY B. MATHEWS - FRANK M. NICODEMUS / WILLIAM A. KOEGEL - HARRY KRATZ / 1912.

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO N.Y / BRONZE.

The Commercial Credit Company was founded in Baltimore by Alexander E. Duncan and a group of eight businessmen. The company initially lent money to companies using their accounts receivable as security. Starting in 1916, the firm entered the growing field of auto finance, which became an ever increasingly important branch of its business until the 1930s, when the Great Depression caused auto sales to plunge. During this time, the firm bought several debt collection services and consolidated them under the name Textile Banking Co., Inc.

The Commercial Credit Company went through several transformations during its history, which extends to this day. In the 1980s and 90s, the company acquired the Control Data Corporation, Primerica Inc., Action Data Services, Inc., the loan partfolio of Barclays American Financial and Landmark Financial Services Inc.

References:   MACo 1937-033

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