The John E. Marqusee Collection [301 - 350]

This medal's obverse depicts Truth guiding Apollo's chariot. At top, LVX ET / VERITAS; signed at bottom, B L PRATT

The reverse bears five lines of inscription flanked by burning torches, VNIVERSITAS YALENSIS / A D MDCCCCI / CONCELEBRAT / COLLEGIVM YALENSE / A D MDCCI CONDITVM

The edge is hallmarked TIFFANY & CO

Bela Lyon Pratt was himself a graduate of Yale and was commissioned in 1899 by Professors Weir and Niemeyer to design this medal for the upcoming 200th anniversary of Yale College. The medal was struck in silver and bronze. One of the silver medals was given to President Theodore Roosevelt and one of the bronze medals was taken into space by Astronaut Joseph B. Allen.

This is a beautiful medal with a very appropriate design for one of great universities of the world.

The circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was produced by Tiffany & Company of New York. It was struck in bronze and silver in unknown mintages.

References: Marqusee 325

This medal was chosen as the 26th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1942.

The obverse bears kneeling nude youth holding an airplane model in right hand, left hand on propeller; sun at left horizon. To right, date and signature 19 (circled BP) 41 / ©

The reverse bears dove in flight over fleecy clouds. Below, FLIGHT

Brenda Putnam wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"Although this medal is issued during a preiod when the entire world is engaged in a gigantic struggle on land, at sea, and in the air, the theme of the medal is not warlike. The lad is no warrior, and the bird no eagle. Rather does the design concern itself with man's creative struggle to win supremacy in a vast new region, -the air. The war proves only too well the appalling destructive power of fighting and bombing planes. But beyond the war -and there will surely be a beyond- there are infinite possibilities for constructive and humanitarian activities in man's conquest of the air."

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 759 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

This medal was chosen as the 29th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1944. The obverse bears herm-type male bust facing upward against massive stylized wings. Around, ALL - PASSES ART ALONE ENDURING STAYS TO US; in lower left field, THE BUST / OUTLASTS / THE / THRONE; in exergue, THE COIN TIBERIUS; at left, incuse, R.H.RECCHIA / ©

The reverse bears nude youth leaping with outstretched arms into starry sky; hills clouds, and rays in background. Around, TOO LOW THEY BUILD WHO - BUILD BENEATH THE STARS

This medal is one of the two war-time SOM medals that were originally struck in silver because copper was largely dedicated to war needs. Apparently, 57 50mm-diameter pieces were struck in bronze but even long-time collectors have not seen any. Some were later struck in the 1970's.

Recchia drew his own inspiration for this medal from poetry, namely Austin Dobson's "Ars Victrix' for the quotes on the obverse and Edward Young's "Night Thoughts" on the reverse. Recchia wrote in the brochure accompanying the medal:

"The bust ... shows the man's mind stretching upwards, to and beyond the flight of the wings of imagination and passing time and depicting man's dreams of seeking higher realms of inspiration."

Recchia's combined message was devoid of war-time propaganda and very humanistic at its core. Or maybe the very fact that it was so humanistic made it a very effective war-time message for an audience that was fighting for the survival of western civilization.

On a personal note, this is the medal that inspired me to become a medal collector when I first saw it on display at the Yale University Art Gallery. To this day, it remains one of my favorite art medals.

This medal was first produced in 50mm and was struck in silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. OVerall, the reported production quantity of this medal is 891 small-diameter silver, 57 small-diameter bronze, 150 large-diameter bronze, and 100 large-diameter silver.

This medal was chosen as the 23rd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1941.

The obverse bears head of mother with closed eyes holding her child with long hand supporting head. Along left and right edges, PRO / PATRIA

The reverse depicts Prometheus chained to rock at ankles and wrists, attacked by eagle. At top, left, and right, PRO / HVMANI / TATE (mark composed of crossed flaming torches over bar); signed below, Joseph E. Renier. Sc. / ©

Renier dedicated this medal to "all those who contriute their something to life." He wrote in the medal's brochure:

"The underlying theme of this medal is the devotion of womanhood and manhood to country and to humanity. "

1941 was the year America officially entered World War II and the theme of "sacrifice" and "devotion" was lay heavily on people's minds. Prometheus' "For Humanity" applies to the legen just as it applied to how American's saw their involvement in the war.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 849 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

This uniface medal was the 24th official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The obverse bears full-length seated portrait of Abraham Lincoln at a table, signing the Emancipation Proclamation while winged Fame is crowning him. (ANS seal) in upper left corner. Below, 1809 ABRAHAM * LINCOLN 1909; signed in upper right corner, J.E. ROINÉ SC^P

The edge is marked WHITEHEAD-HOAG 50

Originally struck by Whitehead-Hoag, the Medallic Art Company of New York issued a restrike in 1959.

The rectangular medal measures 73mm x 101mm and was struck by the Whitehead-Hoag of Newark, New Jersey. The reported mintage is 2 pieces in gold, 75 in silver and 100 in bronze.

This medal was the fifth issue in the Circle of Friends of the Medallion series.

The obverse bears a bust l. of Lafayette in Garde Nationale uniform. Legend below, MARIE JOSEPH PAVL / YVES ROCHE GILBERT DVMOTIER / MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE / MAJOR GENERAL IN THE SERVICE OF / THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / AND NOBLEST PATRIOT OF THE / FRENCH REVOLTION; signed J E ROINE. The reverse bears Liberty advancing with sword, falgsm eagle, 1776 on rising sun, 1789 in clouds. Dedication below, AD PERPETVAM REI / MEMORIAM / MCMXI (for the everlasting memory of the events); signed J E ROINE.

The medal measures 47mm x 77mm and was produced by the J.K. Davison Company of Philadelphia. Its mintage is probably known... but unfortunately not to the author of this page.

This medal was the 22nd official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The obverse bears half-length seated portrait of Grover Cleveland, r.; above at right, within wreath of ivy, VOX POPULI; above left, GROVER CLEVELAND; below, (ANS seal) MDCCCXXXVII * MDCCCCVIII.

The reverse bears seated allegorical figure representing Democracy, holding starred sphere in her raised left hand, right hand supporting table of law, face upturned at the words PVBLIC OFFICE / A PVBLIC TRVST. Background depicts public building with pillars, monumental column with eagle perching on top, and oak trees. Below, * PRESIDENT * / MDCCCLXXXV * MDCCCLXXXXIII; at left bottom, signed J E ROINÉ

This medal was issued to commemorate the life and works of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), the 22nd President of the United States. He was an immensely popular President who won the popular vote three times though that was only sufficient to elect him President twice. This achievement was all the more remarkable because he was running as a Democrat in a time of Republican dominance.

The rectangular medal measures 78mm x 89mm and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 2 pieces in gold, 50 in silver and 100 in bronze.

This medal was the 22nd official issue of the American Numismatic Society.

The obverse bears half-length seated portrait of Grover Cleveland, r.; above at right, within wreath of ivy, VOX POPULI; above left, GROVER CLEVELAND; below, (ANS seal) MDCCCXXXVII * MDCCCCVIII.

The reverse bears seated allegorical figure representing Democracy, holding starred sphere in her raised left hand, right hand supporting table of law, face upturned at the words PVBLIC OFFICE / A PVBLIC TRVST. Background depicts public building with pillars, monumental column with eagle perching on top, and oak trees. Below, * PRESIDENT * / MDCCCLXXXV * MDCCCLXXXXIII; at left bottom, signed J E ROINÉ

This medal was issued to commemorate the life and works of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), the 22nd President of the United States. He was an immensely popular President who won the popular vote three times though that was only sufficient to elect him President twice. This achievement was all the more remarkable because he was running as a Democrat in a time of Republican dominance.

The rectangular medal measures 78mm x 89mm and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 2 pieces in gold, 50 in silver and 100 in bronze.

The obverse bears an angel seated on pediment with oversized wings holding a replica of the Parthenon, ARCHITECTVRE above, MDCCCXCIV (1894, date of founding of the Society of Beaux Arts Architects) in exergue with J.E. ROINE incused. The reverse bears the legend SOCIETY OF BEAVX ARTS ARCHITECTS, award plaque in center surrounded by oak wreath.

The medal is made of bronze and has a diameter of 55mm. It was struck by Medallic Art Company of New York in the early twentieth century.