All Medals

The obverse bears angel of peace (or victory) in center, U.S. infantrymen to left, navy gunner to right. Signed at lower right, S.

The reverse bears heraldic symbols of the victorios Entente nations above Gridiron Club symbol. Below, THIRTY - FOURTH / ANNUAL PEACE DINNER / THE GRIDIRON CLUB / WASHINGTON D.C. / DEC. 13. 1919.

The Gridiron Club, founded in 1885, is the oldest journalistic organization in Washington, D.C. The club is best known for its annual dinner which traditionally features the United States Marine Band, along with satirical musical skits by the members and remarks by the President of the United States and representatives of each political party. The skits and speeches by various politicians are expected to be self-deprecating or otherwise sharply comedic. Since its inception, every President except Grover Cleveland has spoken at the dinner.

The thirtyfourth annual dinner held on December 13, 1919 was called the "Peace Dinner" to celebrate the end of World War I and the beginning of a long lasting peace after "the war to end all wars" had come to an end. Woodrow Wilson used his speech to thank the nation for its efforts and to chart out the future of international relations.

The medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck by the U.S. Mint.

References:   MACo 1971-187

The plaquette's obverse bears Robert Louis Stevenson, standing, facing slight left. Across, HERE DWELT / ROBERT-LOUIS-STEVENSON / DURING THE WINTER 1887-1888 / -.- / "I was walking in the verandah / of a small house outside the / hamlet of Saranac. It was / winter; the night was very / dark; the air clear and cold / and sweet woth the purity / of forests. For the making / of a story here were fine / conditions. / "COME' SAID I / TO MY ENGINE, 'LET US / MAKE A TALE.'" / The Gensis of Ballantrae / -.- / Here he wrote "The Master / of Ballantrae," "A Christmas Sermon," "The Lantern Bearers," "Pulvis at Umbra." / "Beggars" "Gentlemen" "A Chapter on Dreams"  Two conjoined wreaths with birth 1850 and death year 1894 inscribed. Signed at bottom right, Gutzon Borglum / 1916

The reverse just bears three lines of legend, THE STEVENSON SOCIETY, / OF AMERICA INC. / SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (1850–1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. His most famous works are Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and A Child's Garden of Verses.

The rectangular plaquette measures 60.1mm x 95.9mm ans was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1916-003

This medal's obverse bears an open hand holding a Reuleaux triangle with inscribed letter π and arrow head; longitude and latitude grid in background, spanning the entire medal.

The reverse bears same hand and globe with superimposed legend. Around top, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION; across, A DECLARATION / OF / INTERDEPENDENCE / EDUCATION / FOR / A GLOBAL COMMUNITY / 1976

This is a very thick, heavy medal, weighing in at almost 250g. I assume that the thickness was a design element, making the medal slightly more three dimensional and spherical to stress the "globe" design element.

I know neither the artist nor the mintage and would appreciate additional information, also about the event at which this medal was handed out or awarded.

The circular medal measures 62.4mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported but it is numbered at the 12 o'clock edge, so it probably had a somwhat smaller edition size.

The medal's obverse bears portrait bust of Rudyard Kipling, facing right. Around top, RUDYARD KIPLING; signed above shoulder at left, KILENYI

The medal's reverse bears group of classical female figures on a hilltop holding palm frond, lyre, and book. Signed at bottom, (JK monogram)

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling is famous for works in various fields, including "The Jungle Book,"  "Gunga Din," and "The Gods of the Copybook Headings." His genius remains undisputed though his reputation waxes and wanes with the political climate of the day.  George Orwell for example called him "a prophet of British Imperialism."

The circular medal measures 76.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The reported mintage is 200 pieces.

The plaquette bears seated angel, r., playing the lyre. Signed at right top, (TSS monogram).

This handsome plaquette is a companion piece to the better known "L'ange au violon" plaquette, which shows a seated angel playing the violin and facing the other direction.

The plaquette measures 48.8mm x 53mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears eagle, wings spread, holding branch in talons, facing right. Signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)

The medal's reverse bears eagle's head in center; under beak, 19 / 87; twelve segments with months around.

1987 was the Bicentennial Year of the U.S. Constitution.  While the anniversary is not explicitly mentioned on the medal, I would not be surprised if the choice of the Eagle were a nod to Jovine's adopted country.

This circular circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in a variety of materials by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintages are reported.

Many thanks to CJ Swinko for the excellent photos of the bronze variant.

References:   MACo 1986-175, Cal MA-1987

The medal's obverse depicts factory floor scene with two workers operating a casting furnace.  Around, · 1899 - FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY - 1949 ·  / CHICAGO MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY

The medal's reverse bears vertical line of laurel leaves at left. Across, 50TH ANNIVERSARY / (five stars) / FIFTY YEARS IN / A SINCERE EFFORT / TO GIVE COMPLETE / SATISFACTION BY / IMPROVING OUR / PRODUCTS AND / BETTERNG OUR / SERVICE.

References:   MACo 1949-002

References:   ANS 20