You can click medals to switch between obverse and reverse sides.
The medal's obverse bears nude god-like man floating in space, balancing ringed planet on tips of fingers of one hand. Chain of other planets receding in background dominated by solar sphere and celestial gas cloud. Around, THE NEWCOMB CLEVELAND PRIZE / AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
The reverse bears two reclining nudes flanking laurel wreath and ASSA shield and torch. Below, AWARDED TO; FOR AN OUTSTANDING / CONTRIBUTION TO / SCIENCE
Originally called the AAAS Thousand Dollar Prize, AAAS established this award in 1923 with funds donated anonymously by Newcomb Cleveland of New York City. Cleveland, a life member of AAAS, preferred to remain unnamed until his death in 1951. Initially, the prize went to an author or authors for a noteworthy paper, representing an outstanding contribution to science, presented in a regular session, sectional or societal, during the AAAS Annual Meeting. In 1975, AAAS amended criteria for the prize to award the author or authors of an outstanding paper published in the Research Articles or Reports sections of Science. An eligible paper is one that includes original research data, theory, or synthesis; is a fundamental contribution to basic knowledge or a technical achievement of far-reaching consequence; and is a first-time publication of the author's own work.
Today, The Fodor Family Trust generously sponsors this award. Recipients receive a bronze medal, complimentary registration and reimbursement for travel and hotel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting.
This medal was chosen as the 109th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series.
The medal's obverse bears a facing head of a clown, with heavy face paint, suggestive of American Indian warpaint. To the right, CLOWN.
The reverse bears Clowns kissing servants, Columbine and Harlequin. Above, HARLEQUIN; below, COLUMBINE; signed DJ / © / 84.
Clown is shown in the form of 18th century mime Joseph Grimaldi. Dexter Jones was not the first Society of Medalists sculptor to use the clown as a medal subject. Earlier, Jean de Marco and Linda Harper had done the same.
The medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its reported mintage is 750 pieces in bronze.
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