Medallic Art Company

This medal's obverse bears nude male figure restraining rearing winged steed. Signed at right above exergue, (RCW monogram)

The medal's reverse bears facade of Brown & Bigelow building. At top of building, THE HOVSE OF QVALITY / BROWN & BIGELOW; zodiac symbols all around. Signed in exergue, RCWAKEMAN

The edge is marked with MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., as it is now known, was founded in New York City in the year 1914. The twelve original founders were Ernest Albert, Paul Cornoyer, Marshal Fry, Edmund Greacen, Arthur Powell, Walter C. Hartson, William R. Leigh, Frederick Mulhaupt, G. Glenn Newell, H. Ledyard Towle, H. A. Vincent and Jules Turcas. Its goal is to further the cause of contemporary American artists through its Annual National Open Exhibition in New York City, open to all members and non- members, demonstrations, lectures, awards at the Annual, slide program, a newsletter mentioning all activities of the Members and Associate Members and other cultural activities.

I am not quite sure how Brown & Bigelow came to be commemorated on the medal's reverse, but they likely were a big financial supporter of the organization or possibly underwrote the medal's production. The earliest reference to a Brown and Bigelow Award Medal that I could find dates to 1929.

The medal measures 63mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-042

The medal's obverse bears young woman, r., holding staff with furled American flag. Around, FOR GOD AND COUNTRY / SEMPER / FIDELIS; signed and dated to left of woman, (RTM monogram) / 1925 / ©

The reverse bears American eagle over cartouche and American Legion seal. In cartouche, AMERICAN LEGION / SCHOOL AWARD / COURAGE CHARACTER SERVICE / COMPANIONSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

The American Legion was formed in February 1919 by three officers of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris. Congress chartered the organization in September of the same year and the group became very influential, playing the leading role in drafting and passing the so-called "GI Bill."

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1925-046

References:   MACo 1926-016, Marqusee 198

References:   ANS 46, Baxter 353, Marqusee 252

The medal's obverse bears seated young woman binding fasces before outline of the United States. Around, "TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION... AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY"; signed in exergue, E.F.

The reverse bears images of Lincoln and Washington in wreaths above dedication field. In field, NATIONAL ORATORICAL CONTEST / ON THE / CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES / AWARDED BY / THE NEW YORK TIMES / TO / ROGER WOOD / 1931

The National Oratorical Contest grew from a local competition held by the Los Angeles Times in 1923 to a national movement sponsored by the major regional newspapers of the day. Topics had to be related to the U.S. Constitution and prizes were a hefty $1,500 for the winner.  The competition was held annually until 1933.

This medal was issued by the New York Times in the years from 1926 to 1932. Most other newspapers issued variants of a Kilenyi-designed plaquette.  The Times later reused this design for the New York Times Constitution Essay Medal, which took the place of the Oratorical Contest in 1932.

The medal measures 44.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and 14kt gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.  While I have not seen it in silver it probably exists in that metal as well.

References:   Baxter 293, MACo 1926-020-001

The medal's obverse bears a muscular male figure carrying an unconscious female figure in both arms. Signed above exergue at right, J. Juszko

The medal's reverse bears tree with legend across:  THE BRITTON - I. BUDD / MEDAL - FOR THE / SAVING OF / HUMAN LIFE; in cartouche below, inscribed to EMMETT McSHANE

Britton I. Budd (1871-1965) was dubbed the "electric railroad magnate" of Chicago.  He was Samuel Insull's right-hand man and very good at running transportation and infrastructure companies.

The medal was first awarded in 1926 but I have found newspaper articles from as late as 1952 that mention the award. 

Emmett McShane was a resident of Waukegan, Illinois, and received his award in 1928.  I could not ascertain the act of valor that caused him to receive this medal.

The circular medal measures 89mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1926-025

The uniface plaquette bears view of bridge  with ships and riverside industrial buildings. In exergue, COMMEMORATING / THE COMPLETION OF THE DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGE / CONNECTING THE CITIES OF / 1921 - PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN - 1926; signed over exergue at left, L. HERMANT

This is the only medal Leon Hermant is known to have done.  It is a very handsome landscape rendering that makes me wish he had done some more.

The rectangular plaquette measures 81.6mm x 52.4mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-029

The plaquette's obverse bears conjoined busts of Stockton, Rush, and Witherspoon, facing left. Below, ~ STOCKTON ~ RUSH ~ WITHERSPOON ~ / ~ To ~ commemorate ~ the ~ signing ~ of ~ the ~ / ~ DECLARATION ~ of ~ INDEPENDENCE ~

The reverse bears Nassau Hall with trumpet-playing angel flying above and Princeton seal below. To right of seal, ~ Nassau~ Hall ~ 1776 ~ / ~ PRINCETON ~ 1926 ~; signed faintly at bottom right, G. Cecere

The plaquette measures 89.4mm x 61.7mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-030, Marqusee 105

The medal's obverse bears steam train on double track, running from right to left, nude male figure flying next to it, pointing the way.  Around, ONE HUNDRED YEARS / SAFETY STRENGTH SPEED; signed at left, (HS monogram) / ©

The reverse bears early steam engine with operator in centerfield. Under tracks, PETER COOPER'S / "TOM THUMB"; around  on raised ring, · THE · BALTIMORE · AND · OHIO · RAILROAD · COMPANY · / 1827 · 1927

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company is the oldest railroad in the United States and the first common carrier railroad, with its first section opening in 1830. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania.

Philip E. Thomas and George Brown were the pioneers of the railroad. They spent the year 1826 investigating railway enterprises in England, which were at that time being tested in a comprehensive fashion as commercial ventures. Their investigation completed, they held an organizational meeting on February 12, 1827, including about twenty-five citizens, most of whom were Baltimore merchants or bankers, and incorporated in March of 1827.

The circular medal measures 69.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1926-014