This medal was chosen as the 58th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1958. The obverse bears seated clown with horn, neatly filling the circular field.
The reverse bears lyre, masks of tragedy and comedy. Above, MUSIC; below, DRAMA; at lower edge, J. de MARCO ©.
Like many other Society of Medalists artists he designed a medal reminiscent of one of his other works, in this case an etching that is now in the collection of the National Academy.
The finish in particular did not meet with wide-spread approval among the members of the Society. While members appreciated that de Marco intentionally contrasted the lightness of the theme with the darkness of the finish, many just could not find the end result pleasing.
There is apparently at least one exemplar in bright golden bronze that was struck in Medallic Art's Danbury facility and is correspondingly edge marked.
This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 673 in bronze and an unknown quantity in silver.