All Medals

The medallion's obverse bears, within decorated border, seated young woman holding a banner before a sky of stars and one falling star to her right. On banner, COMET ENGRAVING CO. / ESTABLISHED 1898 / CHICAGO

The reverse bears, within same decorated border, ENGRAVERS / AND / DESIGNERS / OF / EMBOSSIN / AND / STAMPING / DIES / IN / BRASS / AND / STEEL

The Comet Engraving Company was founded in 1898 by German immigrant Jacob “Honest Jake” Salg. The company, now named Comet Die & Engraving Company, is still under family management: two of Salg's great grandsons are managing it as of 2017.

This is a beautiful medal, probably designed as a showcase of Comet's work. Based on the lettering I would date it to the 1930's or 1940's, but I'd love to learn more about it.

The circular medallion measures 82.4mm in diameter. It was probably designed and struck in-house by the Comet Engraving Company.

References:   MACo 1971-013-009, WR 9

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Whitman, facing. Around, 1819 WALT · WHITMAN 1892; dated and signed across, 1925 - FINTA

The reverse bears Prometheus shackled to rock at ankle and wrist, with eagle attacking him from right, clawing at his side, beak raised towards his face. Around, AUTHORS · CLUB · MEMORIAL · FUND; signed and dated across, 1925 - FINTA

The circular medal measures 51.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-009

The medal's obverse bears figure of Issachar carrying a bowl full of fruit, a donkey laden with sacks nibbling on a tree shoot in background to his right; sun to his left. At top, ISSACHAR; signed in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob, the fifth son he had with Leah. Said Jacob:

"Issachar will take upon himself the burden and the study of the Torah and all the other tribes will come to him and ask him to decide their doubts on legal questions."

Jacob also gave him the blessing that the fruits of his land would be exceedingly large.

This is the ninth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. 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 1969-100-009, TToI 9

References:   MACo 1932-025, Marqusee 169

The medal's obverse bears the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, depicting Zeus seated on a throne, holding a scepter in his left hand and a figure of Victory; priests at his feet provide a measure of scale.

The reverse bears calendar panel in three columns surrounded by twelve scenes depicting Heracles' Labors. At top of middle panel, 2001

Heracles was Zeus' mortal son who is said to have established the Olympic Games to honor his father. Heracles' Twelve Labors are a series of episodes concerning a penance carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. They were accomplished over 12 years at the service of King Eurystheus.

The medals were originally offered for a price of $34.95 per bronze piece and $169.00 per silver piece.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in antiqued bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayon, Nevada. No mintages are reported.

References:   Cal MA-2001

References:   BG 18

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

Chambellan designed this medal in the early 1930's for the National Association of Manufacturers.

The obverse bears the Statue of Liberty in the center with light radiating from behind its head. From left to right depictions of the Capitol, orator in front of listening crowd, church, printing press, machinery, and skyscrapers. Above, LIBERTY; signed R. CHAMBELLAN SC.

The reverse bears bowl of fire labeled FREEDOM resting on tripod with legs inscribed REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and FREE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. Workers and a mother with children in front of smokestacks and buildings. Along rim on left, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS.

This medal expresses the belief in the benefits of a capitalist democracy, with economic freedom being one of the pillars on which freedom rests.

This bronze medal has a diameter of 76mm and weighs 171g. It was struck by the Medallic Art Company in New York.

References:   MACo 1940-064, Marqusee 108