“Please tell me what my medal is worth.”
I have been asked that question for over thirty years. Probably because I have been – at various times – a medal dealer, a medal collector, a medal manufacturer, a medal researcher, and even a medal appraiser.
It was most difficult when I was a medal dealer. When someone asked that question most often the person wanted to sell the medal they were inquiring about. If I gave the wrong reply and over estimated the value I could lose money when I went to sell it. If I gave too low an estimate the seller often detected this and would not sell to me. So I had to bring all my experience, all my accumulated knowledge about the piece at hand, and my sense of the current market to arrive at a dollar amount I was willing to pay.
There is no price catalog of medals. No Red Book. And I will tell you why. Medals are not like coins where millions were made, and they are extensively graded and can have as many as a dozen or more different grades, and dozens of wildly divergent values. Coins circulate, and are often available in the thousands. Medals don’t circulate and are often one of a kind, with a multitude of other factors that influence their “value.”
So let’s start with value. The four medal values are: bullion value, sentimental value, collector value and insurance value.
Bullion Value.
This is the value of the metal in which the medal is made – its composition. Bullion value is only of interest for medals struck in precious metals – silver, gold, platinum. This value changes daily, even hourly as market factors influence the price. The price of precious metals is quoted in newspapers and on the internet for pure metal expressed in dollars per ounce.
To learn the bullion value of your metal, weigh it. If your scale is calibrated in metric Troy ounces (grains) it must be converted to avoirdupois ounces (grams), Multiply the weight in grams times the fineness of the metal. (Pure metal is .999, sterling is .925, coin metal is .900; gold is expressed in carats of 24 parts). Look on the edge: the exact fineness is required to be marked in some way since the beginning of the 20th century.
Then multiply that number by the daily price of that metal to learn bullion value of your medal (on that day). You should keep in mind that value when calculating any other value. Bullion value is the price of the precious metal once it is melted and available for reuse.
Sentimental Value.
If you have inherited a medal from a family member, your medal has sentimental value to you and often to other family members. To some this may be priceless, other family members could care less. Generally people keep medals their parents received.
Medals won by grandparents become of less interest – as are those of prior generations – and I have learned these are the medals family members are likely to dispose of. So medals of, say, fifty years of age are often to be found on the “secondary market.”
Collector Value.
This is the secondary market, what is called the “current market value.” Its true definition is what a willing seller and a willing buyer would agree to when neither are under pressure. Thus the only market for medals is what a collector would pay for it as a specimen for his or her collection. (There is another market – museums – but more often they would want the medal donated.)
So, what are the factors a collector considers when he wants to buy a medal for his collection? There are so many. Most important, perhaps, is subject matter – what is the theme of the medal. How attractive. Artist. Condition. Who made it. Perhaps size. How mounted. If it was an award medal, who was it awarded to. And a lot of intangibles, like how often does it come on the market, or how many currently available. Others.
I made a list once of the topics medal enthusiasts collect. It ran about 300 topics. Obvious topics are space, aviation, Olympics, medical, presidents, military, naval. Every collector defines his own topic. Nobody tells him what to collect. But it can be quite obscure. One collector organization official I knew collected only trolley medals, but only from Philadelphia, and only before 1900. I think he had all three of them!
Since there have been thousands – millions – of different medals made since 1438, with Pisanello’s first Renaissance medal, you get a sense of the vast field collectors have to choose from. Two topics have a greater supply than there are collectors, religious and sports. Thus these don’t have a high value, but could have factors that do increase their value.
To adequately learn a value anyone who makes an appraisal must see the medal. He will look at things like the highpoints for wear, the edgelettering for clues on composition and maker. He will feel the edges, is it free of nicks? He might test for its ring – is it cast or struck?
So appraising medals is not an exact science. The best medal appraisers are medal dealers who constantly buy and sell, and must be on top of the market in medals. Collectors are fickle, fashions in collecting change. Often these dealers are specialists, since the field is so vast.
In all there may be a dozen or two full time medal dealers in America. And one full-time medal auction house. Auction prices are the absolute closest thing to a current market collector value. But the same medal in the same auction may sell for a different price – other factors may have influence the value.
So ask around. You can show your medal to a local coin dealer. He can tell you condition, but he probably won’t know the value. Ask the coin dealer to recommend someone who would know. Chances are he will recommend someone in another city. Write or email that medal dealer. Send a photo or scan. Describe width, edgelettering, and color (if you don’t know exactly what composition).
The medal dealer may ask you to send the medal for further inspection. It could mean the difference between a few dollars and many hundreds of dollars. You may have a medal of great interest to a medal collector.
Insurance Value.
This is highest value of all. It is based on “replacement cost” – buying a similar medal plus all the costs incurred in finding and acquiring the replacement medal. In addition to money, it might require a length of time to acquire a similar specimen. After all, you might have to influence another collector to part with one from his collection!
I have a penny dated 1905 has been stamped by Medallic Art Co. Presidential Art Medals, Inc. Distributors inside the bottom of top part of the box The penny is stamped with a Indians head it is a pin
I have found a large commemorative coin made by the Medallic Art Co. in Danbury, Ct. the front has printed 200th Anniversary
The United States Constitution. Two men are on this coin on the left is Governor Morris and on the right is James Madison.
On the back in large print at the top Is “We The People” a map of the 16 colonies and at the bottom is printed “September 17, 1787
Can you please tell me the date of this coin and it’s value or the value when Medallic Art Company sold it for?
This coin is in perfect condition and still in its box.
Medallic Art records show 22 different medals commemorating the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution between the years of 1985 and 1987. To confirm which of these is your medal would require a picture of your medal to compare with the various dies. Unfortunately, that would not determine the medal’s value when struck, and we don’t really have a way of determining that because we did not sell these items directly.
Hello, I am interested in determining the sculptor of a bronze Medallic Art medal entitled; MARINE SOCIETY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK / ADD TO CHARITY KNOWLEDGE / CHARTERED 1779. Unfortunately, the piece is not signed. It was awarded in 1963. Thanks in advance for your help, Jeff
Jeff, the die database shows a die made in 1964 for a 3 inch Marine Society of the City of New York Medal. The sculptor of that was Joseph Renier for the obverse, but the reverse is a stock design. The database does not show anything for 1963.
Hi
My wife and I have two – “Two Part Interlocking Art Medals” produced by Medallic Art Co. One is entitled the Four Freedoms, dating from 1976. The other medal shows what appears to be mythical characters. The obverse has a horse’s head and neck surrounding a bearded human profile face. The beard appears to be braided, a style common in some ancient cultures. The reverse shows a hand releasing a winged horse. Inside are a horse and human surrounded by a circle of flames. Can you tell me the background of this medal and perhaps send me a copy of the insert.
Jim
Jim,
The medal in question is called “Inspiration” and issued in 1974, the creation of Frank Eliscu, and something of a first of a medal of that type. Your inquiry inspired a little research, and we have uncovered the press release that announced the medal. Please see the press release here:
I have a 75th Anniversary, 1937 Sprague, Warner & Company Medal – struck by Medallic Art Co of NY. It’s about the size of a 1/2 dollar and appears to be copper. Do people purchase these items? If so, who would I contact?
The Medallic Art Company does not purchase medals that we or other mints have minted. Have you tried eBay? Many of our vintage medals are sold there regularly.
I have a Federation of Police Medal of Honor. The rim is marked “Medallic Art” Could you please shed some light on when this was made, the sculptor, as well as how many were made? Thank you for your help! I have included a link to the image: http://www.militarywired.com/FOPMOH.jpg
Our record on this one is a little sparse. Our die number for that is 1971-99, which means the die was made in 1971. No sculptor is mentioned, only that this was a hand cut die.
Hi,
I inherited a debate award medal from Hampden Sydney College,1895. It is inscribed with the college name, my great uncles name and dated with roman numerals and gold wreath on one side on the reverse it is inscribed Philanthropic Literary Society for Debate. It is slightly larger than a half dollar coin and weighs 16.382 grams, It is gold in color but unmarked. My great Uncle studied @ Hampden Sydney 1894 – 1897 attained his degree and then completed his PhD @ Yale. He was a professor of Lauguages at Austin College from 1904 – 1946. The medal is very ornate. Can you tell me where I could get an insurance appraisal?
This medal predates the beginning of Medallic Art Company by several years. We have no recommendations for appraisers, but if you simply do a search of eBay for “1895 medal” you will find a variety of similar medals with wide ranging prices. You can start there.
Hampden Sydney College would love to have that medal. Donate it to them and write off $5K donation on your tax return. They are still in business and honor the graduates of their school
I have a medallion that was given to me when I was a kid. It’s dated 1973 with fighting stallions on one side and two owls on a branch on the other. Henry Van Wolf is scribed on both sides. I would like to know more about it.
Thanks.
This 2-inch medal has die number 1973-189 in the Medallic Archive, and was minted in both bronze and silver. Henry Van Wolf was both the sculptor and the client for this medal.
Hello and good day!
I have come across a Medallic Art co. piece that appears to be a morale booster for soldiers. It is 4.5 grams and 25mm in diameter. At the bottom of one side reads “Pat. applied for” “Sterling” “MACO Roch. NY”.
That side has the words “A TOKEN OF FAITH” above a line with single 7 leaved branch standing at either side. Below the line is “TO MY UNKNOWN FRIEND AND DEFENDER OF AMERICA” right below that “FROM AN AMERICAN CHILD”
The other side has the busts of a young boy and girl at either side of a heart cartouche, looking at each other. This is superimposed on what looks like a stars and stripes motif. This side says “THE HEART OF AMERICA” and below in script “AMERICAN CHILDREN”.
The edge is plain without any markings.
The style appears WWII era, but I’m not sure.
I’ve searched far and wide and have not been able to reference a second piece like this. This blog is my last resort.
Thank you kindly!
– Dmitry
Your Medal was not made by Medallic Art Company. Instead it was made by Metal Arts of Rochester New York.
The two firms have been confused for years. Note the “s” in their name. There is no “s” in the name Medallic Art Company. Also their first name is “Metal;” our first name is, of course, “Medallic.”
The Rochester firm was founded in 1913. It struck medals over the years and created a division called American Mint for striking coin-relief medals about 1970. Metal Arts no longer manufactures medals but apparently is in the metal parts cleaning service business for industrial clients.
Thank you so much for confirming the age. If the archives would benefit from photographs of the item, I have uploaded them and they can be viewed or copied from my Photobucket account:
Front/Back
Thank you very kindly once again for your assistance.
– Dmitry
Hi
I have recently received, from my old friend, the following gift:
A silver [ .999 pure ] medallion of Lyndon B. Johnson by artist Felix W. de Weldon It came with a small sheet metal stand and a beige box.. the serial no is 5210….. It weighs in at almost 5 ounces. the enclosed pamphlet is dated 1-20-1965.
Could you give me some history on this item and its market value if possible…. By the way, the piece is magnificent….
Jim Bath
You have the inauguration medal for Lyndon B. Johnson. The die number is 1964-005, and it was pressed in three sizes: 2 3/4 inches, 2 1/2 inches and 1 1/16 inches. Medals were pressed in bronze, silver and gold. The customer was the Democratic Inaugural Committee. As you already mention, the sculptor was Felix de Weldon.
For images of this and other presidential inaugural medals see these links:
Lyndon B. Johnson Inaugural Medal
U.S. Presidents Inaugural Medals
As far as value goes, I would recommend you find what this and other similar inaugural medals sell for on eBay or other auction sites.
I have a large bronze medal stamped on the edge with Medallic Art Co Danbury, CT. Bronze On the front of the medal it says Vice President of the United States with the United States Seal on it. On the back of the medal it has Nelson Rockefeller’s autograph. What can you tell me about this medal?
From our archive records, we find that you have the Nelson Rockefeller Vice Presidential Inauguration Medal, struck in 1975, die number 1975-082, from a sculpt by Frank Eliscu. It was struck in 2 3/4, 2 1/2, 1 1/2 and 1 1/4 inch diameters. At that time, the Medallic Art Company was located in Danbury, CT.
Hello. I have a MACO Shenandoah National Park medal that has the legend on one side “1872 National Parks Centennial 1972” with a high relief bird on a branch, and on the other “Shenandoah National Park Stony Man 1935” with the image of a road going through the woods on a mountainside. On the edge is a marking that it is .999 silver. I think it is beautifully sculpted and made. I have also seen these in bronze and ones from other National Parks with well done designs from those parks. Could you please tell me who was the artist who modelled my Shenandoah medal, and are there records of the numbers of these minted in bronze and those in silver?
Jim,
You have one of the National Park series of medals. The bronze versions of these medals are still available both in the National Parks, and through the Northwest Territorial Mint’s online store. The records do not show how many were minted in silver. The artist was Frank Hagel, and we recently did a phone interview with him.
I have a 2 medal set of Viking 1 and Viking 2 1976 “Twin” Mars Unmanned Landing. The Certificate of Authenticity is #035 and it is struck in .999 Fine Silver. The medals weigh 9.8 ounces combined and are displayed in a black leather-like case. I have not been able to find anything similar on ebay. Could you give me a ball park range of what the collector value could be or where I may find that information? Thank you.
Hi Mike,
We cannot appraise the value of your medals, but the silver value of the medals alone is around $800, which would be the floor on the value. Those medals were minted in both bronze and silver, in 2 1/2 and 1 inch sizes, and the sculptor was Marcel Jovine. The die number was 1976-156.
Medallic: 1636.1936 ANNO.ACADEMIAE.HARVARDIANAE. TRECENTESIO MDCCCCXXXVI
at the back of the medal is: OUT OF SMALLE BEGINNINGS GREATER THINGS HAVE BEEN PRODUSED BY HIS HAND THAT MADE ALL. THINGS OF NOTHING AND GIVES BEING TO ALL THINGS THAT ARE.
THREE BIBLES VE RI TAS
Francine, you are describing the Harvard Tercentenary Medal, die number 1936-012. It was sculpted by Arthur Graham Carey. This medal was minted in both bronze and silver, though the number that were pressed is not in our records.
I have an American Veterinary Medical Association Centennial Medal from 1963. I was wondering if you might have any other information about it. Thank you.
Jennifer,
The American Veterinary Medical Association Centennial Medal has die number 1963-051, was 3 inches in diameter, and was minted in bronze only. The sculptor was Ralph Menconi, who among other projects for MACO sculpted the Society of Medalists, Thomas Jefferson medal as well as many of the U.S. Presidents Art Medal series.
I have a small (1 3/8″ diameter) Look Magazine Award. It has a stylized image of a woman on the front and on the back has the recipient’s name above the words “Look 1949 Film Achievement Award”. On the edge it reads “Medallic Art Co. N.Y. 10k”. Can you please tell me who the sculpture of the medal was and how long Medallic Art produced them for Look Magazine? Also, any other interesting facts you may have on this medal would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John
John,
The Look Magazine Film Award Medal is in our records with die number 1944-02, in other words, created as the 2nd job in 1944. The records do not show how long the medal continued to be made. It also indicates the diameter is 1 7/16 inches, and was pressed in bronze, gold, and gold plated. The sculptor was William Zorach.
As a follow-up question on the Look Magazine Award – If my medal is marked 10k on the rim, does that mean it was one of the ones pressed in 10k gold?
I have a medal produced for the bicentennial visit to the US by Queen Elizabeth. It is from Medallic Art Company, Danbury, CT, and the sculptor is Frank Gasparo. I have not been able to find any kind of information about it anywhere.
I would hate to simply sell it for silver if it has collector value.
Bob,
As you know, you have the 1976 Queen Elizabeth Visitation Medal, and it was indeed sculpted by Frank Gesparo. With die number 1976-094, it has a diameter of 1 1/2 inches, and was minted in bronze with gold plating, bronze with silver plating, and also minted in .999 silver in Medallic’s Danbury facility of that time. It no doubt has collector value, but we are unable to assess that.
i came across an interesting medal recently that is from the 50th running of the indy 500 with the state of indiana 1816-1966 sesquicentennial around the center image of 2 indy cars and the pagoda. The other side has the seal of indiana on it. it is stamped on the edge medalic art co. NY. I have searched heritage auction and ebay, but i cant seem to find 1 like it. Any information you could give would be great. thank you in advance, nick
Nick,
Records at Medallic indicate this was from die number 1966-018 for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 50th Anniversary Medal. It was sculpted by Warner Williams, and was made in two sizes, 1 3/4 inches and 1 1/2 inches, and pressed in both bronze and gold. The records do not say how many were pressed.
Thank you for the information, I was told that the medal was given to a member of the press as a keepsake. I was just curious if they were sold at the speedway as souviners or if they were given to certain people that were involved with the race. Thanks again, Nick.
I have a couple of items pertaining to the Medallic Art Company 1959 Hawaii Statehood medal. One is a set of 8 full size bronze medals representing the sequence of striking of the medal all the way from the blank to the finished medal.
The second is a set of two large plaster pieces (about 10-12″ diameter) one of which is the obverse and the other the reverse of the Hawaii medal.
Can you tell me anything about these items?
Tom,
Thanks for your inquiry.
What you have described is called a progression set that, as you said, shows some or all of the steps involved in creating a high-relief, die-struck medallion such as the Hawaii Statehood medal you described. High-relief medals require multiple blows of the press, because the metal becomes harder with each strike in a process called work hardening. After a only a few blows, each piece is annealed – heated quickly below the melting point and cooled slowly – to allow the metal grains to relax so they will respond to the next set of blows. Some medallic objects may require as many as a dozen strike-and-anneal cycles to produce all the relief of a design. The progression set shows how each cycle develops more and more of the detail on the medal.
Some progression sets also include the steps involved in finishing the medal. This may include sandblasting to create microscopic pits in the metal surface, oxidation in a chemical bath that darkens the entire piece, then polishing to remove the darkening from the raised relief portions and highlight the detail of the medal design.
Progression sets are usually made in small quantities at the same time as the original production run, and these are prized by collectors because of their uniqueness and relative rarity.
The plaster models, called “sculpts,” are copies of the original medallic sculpture, and these were used to create the steel dies that struck the medals. Sculpts are usually three to four times larger than the finished piece, and since this medal is 2.5 inches in diameter, your ten-inch sculpts follow that practice.
A durable negative model is molded from each sculpt out of an epoxy resin or other hard material. This negative, called a die shell, is placed on a mechanical pantograph machine that traces and proportionately reduces the pattern of the model while cutting the steel die. Because plaster sculpts are often fragile by nature, most are not preserved after the dies are made. If needed, additional plaster models can be cast from the die shell. This might be done later so that some small feature of the original design, such as a name or a date, can be changed on the new plaster, and a new set of dies can be produced.
The Hawaii Statehood Medal that you have was made by Medallic Art Company in 1959 and designed by Spero Anargyros (1915-2004) who is credited with nineteen medallic designs for Medallic Art Company from 1955 to 1994. The client is listed as the State of Hawaii. It is known that these medals were minted in bronze, fine silver, and gold versions, but company records no longer exist to tell us how many were made in each metal type.
We would be most interested to know the ownership history of your progression set and the plaster models. We are certain there is a good story to be told there as well.
I picked up an unusual medal today, “75th Anniversary of the founding of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY for MICROBIOLOGY 1899-1974.” On the face in relief, it has 5 mini medallions of protozoa, algae, bacteria, fungi, & viruses. Yuk to most, but natures beauty to me. I’m wondering if you can tell me who the artist was, & how many were minted.
Mike,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Medallic Art records show this medal to be 3 inches in diameter, with die number 1973-162. While the records do not show how many were minted, the medals were struck in both bronze and silver. The sculptor was Clarence Doore who sculpted 20 other medals for Medallic between the years of 1973 and 1977, many of them for universities or corporations or other societies.
My dad gave me a medal that he reciveced back in 1971 from State Automobil mutual Insurance Company this medal was made by Medallic Art Company, New York. If you can give me any info on the Medal coin and the value I would appreciate this.
Thank You
Mary Muir
Mary,
Thank you for the comment. According to our records, that was a 3 inch medallion with die number 1969-181. It was struck in bronze only, but a count of how many were struck is not in the records. The sculptors were Warner Williams and Ramon Gordils. Warner Williams sculpted many medals for Medallic over the course of 50+ years, including the well known political satire medals found here. As for valuation, your best bet is to find similar medals for sale on ebay.
Hi, I have a set of 6 framed bronze medals, commissioned by “John Deere”, struck by the Medallic art co. They depict Joseph B.Strauss, W.J.Wilgus, Louis Sullivan, W.J.M Rankine, Ferdinand De Lesseps, and Jogh Smeaton, all were made in 1980, apart from Joseph B.Strauss, which was made in 1979. I think they are 3inches in diameter.
What could you tell me about them? As I have scoured the internet for months and have found nothing.
Thanks
Chris
Hi Chris,
You have a set of 3 inch bronze medals that were indeed commissioned by John Deere and Company. The die numbers are as follows:
1979-192 Joseph B. Strauss Medal
1980-006 Ferdinand De Lesseps Medal
1980-007 W.J.M. Rankine Medal
1980-008 W. J. Wilgus Medal
1980-089 Louis Sullivan Medal
1980-090 John Smeaton Medal
All were sculpted by Gladys Gunzer, who over the years produced over 500 sculpts for the Medallic Art Company, some of the most notable would include the Reagan-Bush election day medal and the Vice President Bush inaugural medal.
Medallic did a lot of work over the years with the John Deere company as well, with many dozens of completed medals.
I have purchased three medals made by the Medallic Art Co NY. All three are stamped bronze and state “The Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University”. The first medal was created in 1964 and has the face & name of George Bancroft with the dates of 1800 – 1891 & I believe was created by A S Hardin. The second medal was created in 1968 and has the face & name of William Ellery Channing with the dates of 1780 – 1842 & I believe was created by Wein. The third medal was created in 1970 and has the face & name of Oliver Wendell Holmes with the dates of 1841 – 1935 & I believe was created by I Kiselewski. Any information you can provide me about these medals would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Jenny
Jenny,
I can confirm your information. Your years of issue are correct although all of our die numbers were created in 1963. For the complete list of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, see this link. The sculptor for the Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr medallion was Joseph Kiselewski, and for the Channing medallion, the sculptor was Albert Wein.
I have a gold plate over gold filled set of 4 Medallions known as “The Physcian” done by Milton Horn in 1971. I did some old newspaper research and found out quite a bit. My examples are all numbered “64”…the indicated maximum medallions made in one article were 180 of the gold/gold versions, 480 of the solid silver ones (at over 3 troy pounds!), and1200 bronze copies. Do your records verity these numbers? In the past three years I have never found a sale record in communications with dealers…these beautiful medallions might as well be unique. Thanks much.
Dan,
Our records for that medal do not provide us with the number minted. Yes, these were beautifully crafted and pressed. We do have a bronze sample in our archives and include it here.
I have a commemorative medallion for the Apollo 11 mission. The inscription on one side redas, “Commemorating the historic first flight to land men on the moon.” I can’t seem to find any more information on this coin. DO you have any details?
Justin,
You have the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Medal, which our records show as die number 1969-20. 2 1/2 inches in diameter, it was created by sculptor Ralph J. Menconi, a regular for Medallic Art. This medal was pressed in both bronze and silver. The records do not show the quantities that were pressed.
Like Justin I have a Apollo 11 commemorative medallion that I have been told is rare? It is 1-1/2″ diameter and is 24.4 gram bronze medal. I can not find much on this coin on the front it says around the edge “The Apollo 11 Mission” and “commemorating the historic first flight to land men on the moon and the back has a pic of Apollo 11 sitting on the moon and arounf the edge says Man first landin on the moon and the date July 20, 1969. Finding info on this coin and its value have proven to be difficult, Ihave found one selling on Ebay for the price of 995.95 . Please help if you can.
Joanna,
Medallic Art minted 4 different Apollo 11 Medals. Fortunately, your description was detailed and I could find the record in the archives. Minted in 1969 with die number 1969-095, the sculptor was Joseph DiLorenzo. The records do not show how many of each were minted, but both bronze and silver versions were made. We’re sorry, but we cannot provide a value on this medal.
I have set of 8 historical mint medals with a small pamphlet on each mint location. Can you tell me what year they were created and how many were in the set?
Jean,
Medallic Art did produce a series of 8 Mint Medals for Coin World which included medals for Philadelphia, Charlotte, New Orleans, Carson City, Dahlonega, San Francisco, Denver, and the new Philadelphia Mints. Minted in 1962, these carried die numbers of 1962-001-001 through 1962-001-008. The sculptor for all 8 was Robert Weinman. Measuring 1 1/4 inch in diameter, each medal was minted in both bronze and silver.
I have a 2″ diameter Medallic Arts Co medal commemorating the 60th anniversary of Monel alloy production by the Huntington Primary Mill in Huntington, W Va. 1905-1965. 1 side says “Huntington Primary Mill” and “First Metal Rolled” surrounding a roller machine. The other side has the #60 in the center surrounded by “Sixty Years of Progress”, the word “Monel” and “Nickel-Copper Alloys”, and the #s 1905 1965.
Can you tell me something about the medal and if the metal is monel?
You are speaking of the Huntington Alloy Products 60th Anniversary Medal with die number 1965-056. Our records indicate it is indeed minted Monel, which is a Nickel-Copper alloy. Hermann Becker was the sculptor, his first for the Medallic Art Company.
I’ve begun collecting medallions, mostly American Legion and VFW. Several of the American Legion are marked on the edge with the Medallc Art Co. NY and stamped with “Bronze”. are they different from the ones not marked so? are some brass? were the bronze ones “cast” or stamped? Thank you for your time, I look forward to your response. rd
Most people think of bronze as an alloy of copper and tin. However the word “bronze” has become somewhat imprecise, and it is often used as the name of any alloy of copper and some other material that makes the metal behave in a desirable way. In addition to copper, bronze alloys may include arsenic, phosphorous, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, antimony, silver, iron, beryllium, manganese, and even aluminum and silicon.
“Architectural bronze” is a favored alloy used for artistic and decorative uses that is primarily a combination of copper and zinc – which is what most people would call brass. Medallic Art has used this alloy for medals and medallions for more than a century.
Pieces with “BRONZE” stamped on the edge may have been so marked to clearly distinguish them from medals of the same design that were also struck in other metals such as silver or gold or if some bronze pieces were later plated in precious metal – and subsequently marked “PLATED.” If the job was only struck in bronze and never plated, the metal name may not have been applied to the edge at all.
Medallic Art Company strikes medals in powerful presses that exert hundreds of tons of pressure with each blow. For pieces with high relief, several blows and repeated annealing may be required to get the metal to fill in every detail in the design.
Ciba Locorten Semi Nude Woman Bronze Medal -a bronze medallion measuring 2 1/2″ in diameter and 1/4″ thick. It features a raised image of a semi-nude woman and is marked “Ciba Locorten (Flumethasone Pivalate). The reverse is blank. The edge is stamped “Medallic Art N.Y. Bronze. I was wondering if you could give me more information about this item.
Joann,
The CIBA Locorten Medal was struck from Medallic die number 1970-035, and was minted in bronze for the CIBA Corporation of Summit, NJ. It has a diameter os 2 1/2 inches and was sculpted by Patrick Whitaker, a sculptor whose work for Medallic Art spanned over 30 years and more than 80 medals.
RJ
I have a two-medallion set of The Screaming Eagle (101st Airborne commemorative), I think from 1969. It is numbered 727 of 2500. One is a bronze, the other silver. Still in original box with the provenance. The sculptor was Trygve Rovelstad. There is no fineness indicated, and was wondering if the silver is sterling or .999
Must be fairly rare, as I can find nothing on the internet that discusses this set.
Yes, these 1 1/2 inch medals were produced from die number 1969-157 for the 101st Airborne Division Association. The silver version is in .999 silver.
Great blog – thanks for the help.
I have a high-relief Menconi medal of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, forward facing bust. On the reverse is a heraldic eagle and the dates FDR was president, as well as “32nd President…”
It is .999+ pure silver and stamped on the edge with the number 2821, and Medallic Art Comp. Also has “Ralph Menconi C 1961”
Is this from a numbered, limited edition series? If so, do you know how many were produced?
This medal was pressed from die number 1961-001-032 as part of the Presidential Art Medals series of medals. Our records do not show how many of this medal were pressed, but the entire collection of the Presidential Art Medals is well known among collectors. Find more information here.
I have a Medallion with(Beaver for the takin” on the upper Missouri) & (The Fur Trade) with a hunter with a gun and horses behind him on one side. The other side says (Dust and Nuggets ~ Fever at Alder Gulch) & ( A Full Poke) with a panner and shovel with trees in the background. Stamped on edge Medallic Art Co. N.Y. .999 pure silver. There is no date and I can’t seem to find any more information on this coin. DO you have any details?
Thank you in advanced for any information you may have on this coin, Its beautiful and I’d like to know more about it.
Cheers, Inga
Hi Inga,
You are describing the Montana Bicentennial Fur Trade Medal, die number 1974-084-002, part of four Montana Bicentennial medals produced for Roche Jaune, Inc. and sculpted by Frank Hagel. This medal was minted in copper and in silver.
Frank Hagel also sculpted the National Park and Monument medals. This blog has an in depth post on this accomplished sculptor that you should read.
I am looking for information and value of a silver piece that was cast by Medallic Art Company of Mt Rushmore. 30.8 oz numbered 29 of 1000 Artist Lincoln Borglum. Thank you.
I have a Chamizal Settlement bronze medal October 28, 1967 with President Lyndon B. John and Gustavo Diaz Ordaz inscriptions on back and Washington Monument , mountions, and the US seal and Mexican Seal on front
You have medal that was part of the Presidential Arts Medals series, this one a 3 inch medal minted in bronze and gold, with die number 1967-135. Rolf Beck was the sculptor of the front.
Hi, I have what I believe was a presentation medal 1852-1952, for the Studebaker Corp. Centennial. It is lucite encased, with the medal being 3″ in diameter and engraved along the rim to LT. Gen. Levin H. Campbell. He was a WWII ordinance appointee of FDR.
Is it Bronze and is this a one of a kind? Any other info on this would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Ed
The Studebaker Centennial medal was pressed in bronze in 3 inch and 1 1/8 inch sizes from die number 1952-006. The sculptor was Robert Weinman. We cannot say what the history of this particular medal was, but the fact the rim is specifically engraved to an individual would make it very likely to be a unique medal.
Hello! I have recently acquired 3 pieces resembling the official bicentennial medal of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Two of them appear to be the size of the original issue and are in plastic cases stamped “MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.” The third is much larger, weighing 132.4 g. It is stamped “MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. .999+ FINE SILVER” on the edge. I cannot locate a composition stamp or an indication of the maker on the smaller two pieces; the edge of these two is ribbed like a current day quarter. I was wondering if your records showed that Medallic Art Co also produced these, and perhaps what their composition is. I do not believe them to be the original medal struck by the Franklin mint, as their finish is flat, just like the larger piece. Thank you very much for your time.
Greta,
The Medallic Art company produced a medal for the Virginia Bicentennial Commission in 4 sizes ranging from 2 1/2 inches down to 1 inch, all with the same die number, 1974-146. Patricia Musulin was the sculptor. Company records do not indicate how many were pressed in silver. If there is no edge marking indicating it was struck in silver, but it looks silver, then it might be silver plating over bronze.