Calendar Medals

References:   Cal FM-1967

References:   Cal FM-1968

References:   Cal FM-1972

References:   Cal FM-1973

References:   Cal FM-1974

References:   Cal FM-1975

The medal's obverse bears idealized forest scene with with doe nuzzling fawn on left side and owls perched on pine branch on right side. Signed at bottom, Eliscu

The reverse bears calendar panel flanked by owls with fawn above. At bottom, 1975

This was the very first medal issued by the Medallic Art Company in its annual calendar medal series. Interestingly, this medal's obverse was reused in 1991 for the seventeenth calendar medal in the series (this does not count the alternate medal in 1983).

The circular medal measures 76.1mm in diameter and was struck in what appears to be pewter or nickle silver.  I am sure it was also struck in bronze and probably in silver but I have not personally encountered those variants yet. Confirmation and physical characteristics of these variants would be welcome.

References:   MACo 1974-121, Cal MA-1975

References:   Cal FM-1976

The medal's obverse bears Americans from colonial to modern times walking, riding, and driving around the circumference, with some airplanes mixed in for good measure. In raised circular center, the American Bicentennial logo surrounded by AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL / 1776 - 1976; signed with artist's (JOV monogram) at top right; at lower right, MACO / © 1975

The reverse bears square calendar panel in center, flanked by the PHiladelphia Christ Church steeple on the left and a launching Saturn V rocket on the right; Eagle holding streamer with THE / BICENTENNIAL / YEAR in its beak on top, Paul Revere on horseback at the bottom; at left bottom of calendar panel, 1976.

The American Bicentennial was a huge marketing extravaganza that caused a multitude of medals to be issued.   Marcel Jovine created a thematically appropripate design in his inimitable circular style. 

This is one of the few Calendar medals that were issued in different sizes.  A limited edition 3.75" medallion was offered to collectors in addtion to the normal 3" medal.  I am not aware of any medals in silver though I would not be terribly surprised to find out that a few had been struck.  The 1970s were a time of sky-high silver prices and 3" silver medals would have represented a significant investment.

References:   MACo 1975-134, Cal MA-1976

The medal's obverse bears old man and youth's heads combined into Janus head in center. Around, a symbolic evolutionary circle starting with the sun at the top and continuing via lower life forms at the right to lion at the bottom and chain of technological achievements at left, all the way to atoms, leading back to the sun. Signed on truncation of Janus head, EL

The reverse bears calendar panel in center with chain of human life stages from baby at top right to old man at left. At top, 1977; signed at right bottom of calendar panel (VM monogram)

Both sides of the medal deal with the passage of time.  The Janus head is the traditional symbol for the transition from one year to the other.  The obverse deals with evolution and epochal time periods while the reverse deals with the stages of a human life and the process of aging.

While the medal's pamphlet claims that the obverse was designed by Don Everhart II and sculpted by Ernest Lauser, Don Everhart denies ever having worked on this medal. I tend to believe that he knows best what medals he worked on and just hope that the remainder of the information is more accurate.

The reverse was designed by Yves Beaujard and sculpted by Vincent Miller.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Franklin Mint. No mintages are reported.  The silver variant was issued in a limited edition but I do not know the limit.

References:   Cal FM-1977