The Beaux-Arts Medal in America

The medal's obverse bears bust of young laurel-crowned Apollo, facing right, within beaded border. Signed at lower right (AAW monogram).

The reverse bears oil lamp with three flames and light rays within beaded border and raised rim. Below, NATIONAL·INSTITUTE· / ·OF·ARTS·AND · / · LETTERS ·

The medal is inscribed to Charles McLean Andrews on the edge.

Charles McLean Andrews (1863-1943) was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where his father was a minister in the Catholic Apostolic Church. He studied first at Trinity and then at Johns Hopkins, where he received his Ph.D. in 1889. After teaching stints at Bryn Mawr and Johns Hopkins he finished his career at Yale, where he taught American history from 1910 until his retirement in 1931.

Honored with many memberships and fellowships for his historical publications‒he published 102 major scholarly articles and books as well as over 360 book reviews, newspaper articles and short items‒he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1935 and this medal in 1937. The National Institute of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal is only awarded once a decade and easily one of the most coveted prizes in the humanities.

The circular medal measures 57.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold-plated bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported but the awarded medal should be an exceedingly rare specimen!

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery's Numismatics department for its generosity and assistance in making this beautiful medal available to me for research.

References:   Baxter 176, MACo 1909-007

References:   ANS 38, Baxter 182, MACo 1919-003

References:   Baxter 184, Marqusee 394

The medal's obverse bears allegorical robed female figure representing the United States holding torch of Liberty in one hand and resting the other on shoulder of nude girl representing Indian; at right top, house with steeple and tree; underneath, THE ADMISSION / OF INDIANA / TO THE UNION; all surrounded by wreath. Signed at lower left, JANET SCUDDER ©

The reverse bears nature scene with bison and forest worker swinging axe; large sun with radiant beams rising above horizon. Around, INDIANA / 1816 (star) 1916

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold-plated bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is reported as 918 numbered proofs. I am not certain whether this count includes the gold-plated peices or not.

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery for their support and assistance and making this medal available to me for research.

References:   Baxter 192, MACo 1916-011

References:   Baxter 216

This medal's obverse depicts Truth guiding Apollo's chariot. At top, LVX ET / VERITAS; signed at bottom, B L PRATT

The reverse bears five lines of inscription flanked by burning torches, VNIVERSITAS YALENSIS / A D MDCCCCI / CONCELEBRAT / COLLEGIVM YALENSE / A D MDCCI CONDITVM

The edge is hallmarked TIFFANY & CO

Bela Lyon Pratt was himself a graduate of Yale and was commissioned in 1899 by Professors Weir and Niemeyer to design this medal for the upcoming 200th anniversary of Yale College. The medal was struck in silver and bronze. One of the silver medals was given to President Theodore Roosevelt and one of the bronze medals was taken into space by Astronaut Joseph B. Allen.

This is a beautiful medal with a very appropriate design for one of great universities of the world.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was produced by Tiffany & Company of New York. It was struck in bronze and silver in unknown mintages.

References:   Baxter 217, Marqusee 325

The medal's obverse bears portrait of bearded Longfellow, slight left, surrounded by massive wreath. To left and right, 1807 - 1907; signed at bottom over wreath, B.L.PRATT

The reverse bears legend in center field surrounded by massive wreath, HENRY / WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW / - POET - / BORN IN PORTLAND MAINE / FEBRUARY 27 - 1807 / DIED IN CAMBRIDGE / MASSACHUSETTS / MARCH 24 - 1882; signed above wreath, B.L.PRATT 1907

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include Paul Revere's Ride, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. He was also the first American to translate Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, and was one of the five Fireside Poets from New England.

The circular medal measures 63.5mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   Baxter 218

This was the 25th official medal issued by the American Numismatic Society.

The obverse bears nude female seated, holding a mirror but turning face away from it. To left, in four lines, 1909; to right, THE / NEW / THEATRE / OF / NEW / YORK / (ANS logo)

The reverse bears a full length female figure standing, holding a tablet from which is suspended a garland. A crtain at each side is drawn back by a nude child; two Roman lamps below. Incuse at bottom, 1909.

Edge is numbered.

This medal was issued by the American Numismatic Society (ANS) to commemorate the opening of the New Theatre in New York. The New Theatre, located at 62nd Street and Central Park West opened on November 6, 1909. It was noted for its fine architecture but due to poor acoustics and an inconvenient location it was financially unsuccessful. The theater was ultimately demolished in 1931.

Although the medal is dated 1909, it was not actually made available to members until 1916. Barbara Baxter comments that

"... the medal commemorating the opening of the New Theatre in York, with its highly decorative figural compositions and sinuous lines, perfectly captures the spirit of the Gilded Age."

The medal comes in two sizes, one measuring 77mm in diameter, the other 106mm. It was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 50 pieces in bronze for the larger size, at least 1 in gold, 50 in silver and 50 in bronze for the smaller size.

References:   ANS 25, Baxter 220, MACo 1909-003, Marqusee 323

The medal's obverse bears bust of Choate left. Around left edge, CHOATE; at lower right, signed H. A.

The reverse bears oil lamp of Century Association above, surrounded by C - A; circled ANS oak leaves below; laurels around. In center field, JOSEPH HODGES CHOATE / 1832 - 1917 / PATRIOT / AMBASSADOR / JURIST / ORATOR

Joseph Hodges Choate, born in Salem, Massachusetts, was a famous lawyer who litigated many of the most prominent cases in the late 19th century. He allied himself with the Republican Party and was a frequent campaign orator. In 1894 he was president of the New York State constitutional convention. In 1899 he was appointed ambassador to England by President McKinley and held that position until 1905. When World War I broke out he became a fervent supporter of the Allied cause. His death in 1917 was hastened by the physical strain of supporting the British and French commissions in New York.

Herbert Adams was a personal friend of Joseph Choate.

This medal was co-issued by the Century Association and the American Numismatic Society (ANS) in 1922. It was the 44th medal issued by the ANS. It was also the first in a series of medals commemorating men who distinguished themselves in public service.

The medal measures 64mm (2.5in) in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York struck 238 pieces in bronze and 98 in silver. Originally the bronze pieces were available for $5 and the silver pieces for $10.

References:   ANS 44, Baxter 224, MACo 1922-022, Marqusee 2

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