You can click on the medals to see the reverse.
This medal was chosen as the 22nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1940. The obverse bears muscular men raising a fluted pillar. Above, THERE WILL BE OTHER TOWERS; in exergue, (circled 19) FOR THEE TO / BUILD (circled 40); above ground line at left, © HANCOCK
The reverse bears a shattered oak stump with two hardy well-leafed shoots; sun behind.
Hancock designed this optimistic medal when the second World War was still young. His message was that renewal and creation will surely follow death and destruction. As he wrote in his message "From the Artist":
"As the earth renews itself after the ruin of storm, so man must rebuild his towers -material and spiritual- after the wreck of war."
This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported production quantity is 894 in bronze and 100 in silver.
The obverse bears a seated, partially shrouded female figure surrounded by bird, shrubs, lamb and fish. Nude man in clouds regarding female figure with hand raised in question. Above to left, NATURA / INTERRO- / GANDA EST; signed W HANCOCK ©
The reverse bears a microscope above and a hare below legend reading THE PARKE-DAVIS / AWARD / OF THE / AMERICAN SOCIETY / FOR EXPERIMENTAL / PATHOLOGY
Hancock designed a beautiful medal where the partially shrouded female figure, representing nature, is slowly lifting her veil, seemingly in response to questing man.
The Parke-Davis Award was established by the American Society for Experimental Pathology, as it was then known, to honor research contributions by members under 40 years of age (changed to 43 in 1992). It was sponsored by the Parke-Davis Company of Detroit, now a subsidiary of Pfizer.
The medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.
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