"Pegasus and Men" by Gaetano Cecere

Pegasus and Men 1933
SOM-8.1
Dark matte brown
SOM-8.2
Light brown-gold
SOM-8.3
Deep graphite brown
SOM-8.4
Silver

This medal was chosen as the eighth issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The medal's obverse bears male and female nudes stretching towards the sky, winged Pegasus rearing at left. Below, signature G. CECERE / © 1933.

The reverse bears twin peaks with a small tree growing at their feet with stars above. Above, concentric two-line legend, THERE IS NO EASY WAY FROM THE / EARTH TO THE STARS.

It was created in the middle of the Great Depression and, in Cecere's own words, symbolizes

"the age-old inner urge of a large portion of humanity - its never-ceasing struggle to free from the bondage of the sordid and material, its aspiration toward a higher place of existence."

He dedicated his medal to "those who are fighting adversities while maintaining a vision of a higher goal."

The medal measures 73mm in diameter and had a reported production of 1,287 in bronze and 125 in silver.

References: Marqusee 107

SOM-8.1
Bronze
73.0mm (2.87in)
Dark matte brown
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS EIGHTH ISSUE
MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.
SOM-8.2
Bronze
73.0mm (2.87in)
Light brown-gold
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS EIGHTH ISSUE
MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE
SOM-8.3
Bronze
73.0mm (2.87in)
Deep graphite brown
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS EIGHTH ISSUE
MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.-BRONZE
SOM-8.4
Silver
73.0mm (2.87in)
THE SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS EIGHTH ISSUE - ONE OF LIMITED ISSUE OF 700
MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y. - .999+ PURE SILVER