Medallic Art Collector's Selection

This medal's obverse bears two heads facing opposite directions that intersect in the middle.

The reverse bears signature and edition: H. TOVISH 12/100

Tovish's design symbolizes the dehumanization of our modern culture with mechanical forms.

The medal was developed as part of a Christmas gift promotion for Art in America, a magazine that wanted to offer its readers something that was not available anywhere else. The promotion combined medallic objects from six leading modern sculptors and was managed by Edward Albert Bryant, the curator of modern art at New York's Whitney Museum.

The medal measures 77mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage was 100 pieces.

References:   MACo 1965-019

The medal's obverse bears bust of John Adams, slight left, over quill and signature, thirteen stars around. Around edge, THE HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY / 19©71 1735 - 1826

The reverse bears muscular nude male and female figures, female as if falling, male with sword from which a pierced medusa mask dangles; stars and stylized sun over horizon. Around, PRINCIPAL - RIGHT - ABOVE - EVIL; signed at 2:00, DeLUE Sc.

John Adams (1735-1826) was the second President of the United States. He was a lawyer, diplomat, statesman, political theorist, and, as a Founding Father, a leader of the movement for American independence from Great Britain. He was also a dedicated diarist and correspondent, particularly with his wife and closest advisor Abigail.

This medal is the 77th issue of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University medal series.

The medal was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  The bronze variants exist in large 76.1mm and small 44mm diameters, the silver variant only in the small diameter. No mintages are reported.

References:   GANYU 77, MACo 1963-001-077

The obverse bears reclining stag before flowering plants. Signed in exergue at right, G K LATHROP

The reverse bears bird, possibly a crossbill, perched on cone, working to extract seeds from it. Around, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

This was the second of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1974.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 2

The obverse bears human body with circulatory system over a head facing right. Around, MEDICINE - THE RELIEF OF SUFFERING AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE; signed at lower right, M HIBBIT

The reverse bears same head, this time facing left. Legend completely filling head, THE GREAT / EXPERIMENT / THAT MAN BEGAN / UPON HIMSELF / MEDICINE / IS NOT YET ENDED / NOR WILL IT EVER / BE COMPLETED / 1974

The medal's obverse bears female angel in flight, reaching for a star in the firmament. Signed at bottom, B. LUCCHESI

The reverse bears two hands holding an eight-pointed star. Across, Christmas / 1975; at right bottom, © MACO / 1975

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver bu the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1975-164

The obverse bears a gazelle in dynamic pose, front legs in air and neck arched backwards. Above, BROOKGREEN GARDENS; below, SOUTH CAROLINA

The reverse bears Carolina wren in dense rhododendron foliage.

This was the fifth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in 1977. It is one of my personal favorites from the series and seems to be sought after by collectors.

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 5

The medal's obverse bears eagle, about to launch itself into the air, broken chain links at its talons.

The reverse bears two-line maker's mark: TOWLE / SOM © 1977

This paperweight is part of a small series of promotional items that were manufactured in the 1970's. The obverse sides of some of the earlier, more popular Society of Medalists medals were taken and issued as paperweights. The attempt proved commercially unsuccessful.

The circular paperweight measures 73.2mm in diameter. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 10

References:   BG 14