Medals relating to Birds
This page shows medals that relate to birds.
Please let me know if I missed a bird-related medal that is already on this site but not part of this collection.
This medal was chosen as the first issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The obverse bears a hunter with rifle at ready, dog at point. To right, STEADY; to left, LGF 1930; at lower left ©. The reverse bears a ruffed grouse in display plumage on fallen log.
For this medal, Laura Gardin Fraser went back to some of her early medallic subjects that she was well known for: small animals. Rather than just creating an animal-themed medal, she put them in the human context of the hunt. It was a smart and popular choice, exactly what the new Society of Medalists needed. She wrote in the brochure that accompanied the medal:
"There are many persons who desire to collect medals but are unable to do so because the medal is used in most instances as a specific award. The scope of subject matter which bears no relation to a particular person or occasion embraces many forms of expression and the sculptor has a large field of choice. In this case, I felt that a sporting subject would be a departure from what one has been accustomed to seeing in medallic art. Therefore, I chose the hunter with his dog because it presented the opportunity of telling a story embodying a human and animal element.
The Medallic Art Company of New York struck a reported 3,235 pieces in bronze. A reported 125 silver medals were struck from the same dies in the 1970s."
References: Marqusee 174
All that being said, this medal in bronze typically trades on eBay between $90 and $130. Silver variants come up very rarely and can fetch several hundred dollars, typically in the $300 to $600 range.
This medal was chosen as the 10th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The medal's obverse bears a strutting turkey cock and the legend AMERICA, with signature ALBERT - / LAESSLE. Turtle shell under signature. The reverse bears an ear of corn framed by separated husks. Around, ABUNDANCE.
Laessle said in the brochure that accompanied the medal:
"Wishing to symbolize the abundance of America, I have chosen for my medal two truly American subjects, the turkey and the corn."
It should be noted that America, like most other developed nations at the time, was still in the grip of the Great Depression when this medal was issued.
This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage for this issue is 1,021 in bronze, 125 in silver.
References: Marqusee 234
The medal's obverse bears eagle, wings spread, holding branch in talons, facing right. Signed at bottom right, (JOV monogram)
The medal's reverse bears eagle's head in center; under beak, 19 / 87; twelve segments with months around.
The edge is marked with © 1986 MEDALLIC ART CO. - DANBURY, CT. - BRONZE
This circular circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Danbury, Connecticut.
References: MACo 1986-175
Many thanks to CJ Swinko for the excellent photos.