All Medals

The medallion's obverse bears portrait of Elbert H. Gary facing left. Around, · THE · GARY · MEMORIAL · MEDAL · ; signed under truncation, PM

The reverse bears blacksmith resting on a stool, leaning on workbench with hammer supported on his knee; blazing forge behind him; anvil at left of his feet; two winged angels holding wreath over his head; beaded border slightly inset from edge; empty cartouche at bottom.

Elbert Henry Gary (1846-1927) was an American lawyer, county judge and corporate officer. He was a key founder of U.S. Steel in 1901, bringing together partners J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Charles M. Schwab. The city of Gary, Indiana, a steel town, was named for him when it was founded in 1906. Gary, West Virginia was also named after him. When trust busting President Theodore Roosevelt said that Gary was head of the steel trust, Gary considered it a compliment.

The medal's reverse references Gary's crucial role in U.S. Steel.  The figure of the blacksmith might well be Hephaistos, the Greek god of smiths.

The circular medallion measures 96.9mm in diameter and was struck in gold and bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1929-061, Murtha 247

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Abraham Lincoln, full right.Around, FOR A FURTHER UNIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE; signed over left shoulder, KILENYI

The reverse bears view of entrance to the two tunnel pipes with cars entering and exiting, city skyline in background. In exergue, LINCOLN TUNNEL / DEDICATED 1937 / BUILT AND OWNED BY / THE PORT OF NEW YORK AUTHORITY

The medals were struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The mintage is 2,000 pieces in the large bronze size, 75 in sterling silver, and 10,000 in the small bronze size.  Unique foot-sized plaques and plasters are reported as well.

References:   Marqusee 221,222

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Washington, left, with fasces to his rght, surrounded by thirteen stars. Around top, · GEORGE · WASHINGTON · ; across center, · PATER · - PAT-RIAE · / · M·DC·C·L - XX-XIX · ; signed under truncation, PHILIP · MARTINY · MODELER · DESIGN · AND · / COPYRIGHT · BY · AVGVSTVS · SAINT · GAVDENS ·

The reverse bears spread eagle with American shield on chest at top and coat of arms of New York at bottom left, within ring of stars. Across, TO · COM-MEMORATE / THE · INAV-GVRATION / OF · GEORGE · WASHINGTON / AS · FIRST · PRESIDENT · OF · AMERICA / AT · NEW · YORK · APRIL · XXX / · M·D·C·C·LXXXIX · / BY · AVTHORITY · OF / THE · COMMITTEE / ON · CELEBRATION / NEW · YORK · APRIL / · XXX · /  ·M·D·C·C·LXXXIX ·

The medallion was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and modeled by his assistant, Philip Martiny. Richard Watson Gilder, a close personal friend of St. Gaudens and member of the medal selection committee, called it "the first medal of real artistic value in this country."

The circular medallions typically measure between 112mm and 116mm in diameter and were cast in bronze, silver and gold by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

The silver medallions had a reported mintage of ten but only seven are still known to exist. Only one piece was produced in gold and originally owned by J.P. Morgan.

Many thanks to Stacks Bowers Galleries for granting me permission to use pictures of the silver variant.  All rights to the image remain with Stacks Bowers Galleries.

References:   Marqusee 346

References:   ANS 49

The medal's obverse bears nude crouching sculptor holding mallet and chisel, seated on rocky outcropping in front of winged steed. Signed at lower right (LGF monogram)

The medal's revese bears flaming torch flanked by two small sea shells at bottom. Around top, NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY; across, SPECIAL - MEDAL / OF - HONOR

Francis Keally (1889 - 1978) was a New York architect and designer whose major works can be found in the the Public Library in Berlin, Germany, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Oregon State Capitol and the expansion of the Detroit Public Library. In addition to his architectural projects, Keally was an avid supporter of preserving the artistic works of others. He also served as president of the Municipal Art Society, as well as president of the Fine Arts Federation.

The National Sculpture Society only awards its Medal of Honor as the occasion arises.  Notable recipients include Archer Huntington, Daniel Chester French, Joseph Veach Noble, Elliot Offner, Neil Estern, Stanley Bleifeld and James J. Jennewein.  You are certainly in good company if you have received this medal.

The medal measures 101mm in diameter and was struck in gilt bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to Rhode Island Internet Consignment & Antiques for granting me the right to use the images from their auction.

References:   MACo 1929-019

The medal's obverse bears medallic rendition of John Trumbull's painting "The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill," showing General Warren on the ground, held by a fellow Colonial, with British troops closing in from the right. Around top, BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL; at bottom, 1775.

The reverse bears view of the Bunker Hill memorial obelisk. To its left, TO / COMMEMORATE / THE / 150TH ANNIVERSARY / OF THE / BATTLE OF / BUNKER HILL / 1775 - 1925; signed around lower left, KILENYI

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17th, 1775. Two days earlier, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to send troops out from the city to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, which would give them control of Boston Harbor. In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. During the night, the colonists constructed a strong redoubt on Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula.

By daybreak of June 17, the British became aware of the presence of colonial forces on the Peninsula and mounted an attack against them that day. Two assaults on the colonial positions were repulsed with significant British casualties; the third and final attack carried the redoubt after the defenders ran out of ammunition. The colonists retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula.

While the British won the battle, they lost over a thousand men, more than 100 of them officers. General Clinton, echoing Pyrrhus of Epirus, remarked in his diary that "A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America."

My instance of the medal is dedicated on the edge to the colorful Boston mayor James Michael Curley. I don't know whether all instances are thus marked or whether my instance was Curley's personal medal.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1930-001-028, SoM 28, Marqusee 350

The medal's obverse bears historical trademark of stag leaping over log, radiant background pattern. As part of trademark design, JOHN DEERE / MOLINE, ILL.; on log, TRADEMARK; on small panel below, HISTORICAL TRADEMARK / 1876

The reverse bears calendar panel on stylized front view of tractor's cooler grill with John Deere logo above; large profile wheels to each side. In exergue, 1984

John Deere is the brand name of Deere & Company. The company grew from a blacksmith shop in Grand Detour, Illinois, which Deere had opened in 1837 after escaping bankruptcy in his hometown of Rutland, Vermont. He invented the steel plow, solving the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.

The company logo that is on the medal's obverse was used between 1876 and 1912, coinciding roughly with Charles Deere's reign of the company. He died in 1907 and was succeeded by his son-in-law William Butterworth.

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   Cal JD-1984

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of old Benjamin Franklin facing right. Across top, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASS'N; signed diagonally down under truncation, ANDREW C. McHENCH Sc.

The reverse is inscibed: 1956 / CHICAGO CONVENTION / PRESENTED FOR / EXCELLENCE / OF EXHIBIT / FIRST AWARD / HEROLD DERMODY

The plaquette is based on a much earlier design by Andrew McHench. Clyde C. Trees of the Medallic Art Company acquired the design in 1931.  Starting in 1956 it was used as as stock medal.

References:   MACo 1931-030