Medallic Art Company

This medal's obverse bears injured mine worker sitting on the ground being attended by kneeling miner wearing head lamp. Signed at upper right, B.NEBEL

The reverse bears mine safety lamp. Around top, · DEPARTMENT · OF · THE · INTERIOR · / · BVREAV OF · MINES ·; to left and right of lamp, SPRINGFIELD - ILLINOIS / U - S; at bottom, 1925 / · INTERNATIONAL · CONTEST ·

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

Mine safety was a big topic in the 1920's and 30's. Both the U.S. Safety Council and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines organized conferences and sponsored competitions to improve the state of the art in mining safety. Organized by the Bureau of Mines, the First Aid and Mine Rescue Meeting ran from September 8 to September 13, 1925. Eighteen of 28 mining states of the U.S. and several countries sent participants who competed for one of two Congressional Medallions awarded for the top scoring teams in First Aid and Mine Rescue. Teams from 70 mines competed in total.

This little looped medal was probably given to all participants of all meetings (1923-1961), so it should not be too rare, but I have only ever seen it once since I started collecting. The design bears a strong similarity to the obverse of Nebel's much better known Society of Medalists medal, which he designed twenty years later.

The circular looped medal measures 32.9mm in diameter (36.8mm in height with loop) and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1923-026

The uniface medal's obverse bears a Morgan horse in profile, facing left. Around, THE MORGAN HORSE; signed at left next to horse's chest, LAVRA GARDIN / FRASER 1923 / ©

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO NY

This is a later variation of the original Morgan Horse Club medal that was used as an award medal by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA). I do not know whether Laura Gardin Fraser herself modified the die for the obverse or whether that was done later by someone else. Any additional information about this medal is welcome.

The medal's obverse bears kneeling woman with stole or garlands, facing right, in round field with incuse border. Below, NATIONAL ORATORICAL / CONTEST / PRESENTED BY / THE DETROIT NEWS / CLARENCE TARZWELL

The reverse bears legend: WE THE PEOPLE OF THE / VNITED STATES IN ORDER / TO FORM A MORE PERFECT / VNION, ESTABLISH JVSTICE, INSVRE DOMESTIC TRANQVILITY, / PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON / DEFENCE, PROMOTE THE / GENERAL: WELFARE, AND SECURE / THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY / TO OVRSELVES AND OVR / POSTERITY DO ORDAIN AND / ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITVTION / FOR THE VNITED STATES / OF AMERICA

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.

On April 11, 1925, Clarence Tarzwell won the local competition for oratory that was held at his high school in Deckerville, MI. He went on to become a well-known biologist and is credited as a major contributor to the Clean Water Act of 1972.  He retired to South Kingstown, Rhode Island, where he died in 1993.

These plaques exists in many variants.  Many were struck with the sponsoring newspaper's name in raised letters.  The shields on the plaquettes usually come engraved with the contest year (1924 - 1933). I have chosen to only track the different metals as variants.  The plaquettes are known to have been struck in bronze, silver and even gold. With 10 years of competition, and five or more participating newspapers, the mintage must be substantial. It should be noted that the New York Times awarded a different medal designed by Emil Fuchs.

References:   MACo 1924-008

The medal's obverse bears bust of John F. Hylan in oval center field, flanked by Statue of Liberty and city hall. Under bust, JUHN F. HYLAN MAYOR; in exergue, 1924

The reverse bears New York City seal; around, (oak leaves) THE CITY OF NEW YORK (oak leaves) / DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

John Francis Hylan (1868-1936) was the 96th mayor of New York City. From small beginnings in the Catskills he quickly rose through the political ranks and was first elected Mayor in 1917.  As Mayor of the hosting city, he played an important role at the Democratic National Convention of 1924. He served two terms before losing to Jimmy  Walker in the 1924 elections.

The octagonal medal was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York City. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1924-027

References:   MACo 1924-040, Marqusee 9

The medal's obverse bears image of a Native American doll that is part of the Tioga Point Museum collection. Around, TIOGA POINT MUSEUM / ATHENS, PA.; signed at right, SJF

The reverse bears an arrow point above a map of the Athens area where Chemung and Susquehanna rivers merge. Around, EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

The Tioga Point Museum was founded in 1895 by Louise Welles Murray, archaeologist and historian, to give a permanent home to the wealth of history, archaeology, and the art and artifacts of world cultures in Athens, Pennsylvania. It has often been referred to as a "museum of a museum" because it unites disparate collections from various community members who had travelled the world.

References:   MACo 1925-041

The obverse bears head of a Jersey cow facing left. Around, · AMERICAN · JERSEY · CATTLE · CLVB ·; below, ORGANIZED 1868 / CHARTERED 1880; signed under head, (GK monogram)

The reverse bears idyllic scene with three Jersey calves on pasture, sun rising on horizon. Around, · OMNIS · PECVNIAE · PECVS · FVNDAMENTVM ·; inscribed, SOPHIE'S HANNAH / R. OF M. 1925

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. 14K

The American Jersey Cattle Association, as it is known today, was founded in 1868. It is the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States. The services it provides to today's dairy business owners include animal identification and recording, production testing and type appraisal, and genetic evaluations.

This medal is not part of Dick Johnson's excellent reference on American medals. It combines the obverse and reverse from two other medals that Kawamura designed for the Jersey Cattle Club. Kawamura's entire medallic work is cattle-related.

The medal measures 35mm in diameter and was struck in bronze, silver, and gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

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

References:   ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

The obverse bears bust of shepherd dog facing right. Over nose on right, FOUNDED / 1913; around, SHEPHERD-DOG-CLUB / OF-AMERICA; signed over shoulder at right, KILENYI.

The reverse bears idyllic image of sheep pasture with guarding shepherd dog at left and sun on horizon.

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

The German Shepherd Dog Club of America was founded in 1913 and incorporated in 1916 by Anne Tracy, Margaret C. Throop, Edith May Schley, Vemon Castle, John Volkman, Paul Huhn, & B.R. Ruggles. Like all breed-specific clubs, its mission was to define the breed, participate in shows, and interest the public.

The medal measures 50mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1925-040-01