# Society of Medalists

The Society of Medalists was established in 1930 in the United States to encourage the medallic work of superior sculptors, and to make their creations available to the public. The Society of Medalists was the longest running art medal collector's organization in the United States and released 129 regular issues on a twice yearly basis from 1930 to 1995, as well as special issues marking the Society's 20th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries and the United States Bicentennial in 1976. Much of the inspiration for the Society came from the earlier Circle of Friends of the Medallion, which also issued medals on a semi-annual basis from 1908 to 1915. All issues of the Society were struck by the Medallic Art Company, originally located in New York City
Many of the early contributors to the Society of Medalists were prominent American sculptors of the first half of the 20th century. Lee Lawrie was well known for modernistic art-deco works like the Statue of Atlas in New York City and the Sower atop the Nebraska State Capitol, while artists like Lorado Taft represented a more classical ethos. Others concentrated more, although not exclusively, on medallic art, such as John Flanagan (designer of the Washington quarter dollar) and Laura Gardin Fraser. The artists who created the series represented a wide variety of styles and expertise.
The Society of Medalists issues covered a wide variety of themes during its sixty-five years of existence. Because the artists were allowed to select their subject matter, many of the medals are topical. Those of the 1930s frequently serve as commentary on the experiences of the first World War, and anticipate the destruction of the second. Religion often serves as a theme, with interpretations of biblical scenes prevalent throughout all decades. Art, science, and nature also provided inspiration for artists and their medals'.
With two exceptions, all issues of the Society of Medalists were initially manufactured in bronze. Issues 28 and 29, created during World War II, were first produced in silver. During the 1970s the Society undertook a program to restrike its earlier issues in silver. The advent of a spike in silver prices late in the decade, coupled with a low level of demand for the new issues, led to the demise of the silver restrike program by the early 1980s.
The Society of Medalist represents an interesting and accessible collecting opportunity. All of the issues are available on the secondary market, with both specialized dealers and internet auction services serving as important sources. Collectors value the medals in their original boxes, complete with the descriptive pamphlets that accompanied them.

## History

Although the official date of establishment was 1930, there was a public notice for the organization in the January 1929 edition of The Numismatist, the journal of the American Numismatic Association. The notice also stated that, "The Society of Medalists had its inception at the convention of the American Federation of Arts in Washington last May" (May 1928). The notice further stated, "The organization committee is composed of George D. Pratt, Robert W. DeForest and Alexander B. Trowbridge", however, later documents attributed the founding entirely to Pratt. Additionally, the notice discussed that, "Exceptionally accurate machinery makes it possible to strike medals to the quantity of 1,000 or more for very low cost."
In 2010 the American Numismatic Society published the authoritative reference and history of both the Circle of Friends of the Medallion and the Society of Medalists, American Art Medals, 1909-1995 by well known numismatic scholar David Thomason Alexander. In 2016, the Northwest Territorial Mint, parent company of the Medallic Art Company, declared bankruptcy and its assets were subsequently liquidated. In 2018 the American Numismatic Society acquired Medallic Art's archive of historic medals, including records, dies, and examples of the Society of Medalists.
| | Issue | Year | Sculptor | Obverse | Reverse |
| REGULAR | 1 | 1930 | Laura Gardin Fraser | Hunter and dog | Ruffled grouse |
| ISSUES | 2 | 1930 | Paul Manship | Dionysus | Satyrs treading grapes |
| | 3 | 1931 | Hermon A. MacNeil | Indian prayer for rain | Hopi snake dance |
| | 4 | 1931 | Frederick MacMonnies | Charles A. Lindbergh | Lone Eagle allegory |
| | 5 | 1932 | Lee Lawrie | Whatsoever a man soweth | That shall he also reap |
| | 6 | 1932 | John Flanagan | Aphrodite | Torch race |
| | 7 | 1933 | Carl Paul Jennewein | Gloria | Fama |
| | 8 | 1933 | Gaetano Cecere | Pegasus and men | No easy way to the stars |
| | 9 | 1934 | Herbert Adams | Boy fishing | Little fish a prize |
| | 10 | 1934 | Albert Laessle | American-turkey | Abundance-corn |
| | 11 | 1935 | Lorado Taft | Great lakes | Five maidens |
| | 12 | 1935 | Anthony de Francisci | Creation | Swirling universe |
| | 13 | 1936 | R. Tait McKenzie | Youth putting the shot | Four runners |
| | 14 | 1936 | Albert Stewart | Ploughman and crosses | Peace |
| | 15 | 1937 | Robert I. Aitken | Lovers | All mankind loves a lover |
| | 16 | 1937 | Chester Beach | In peace fathers die | In war sons die |
| | 17 | 1938 | A. Stirling Calder | Dance of life | With pleasure and pain |
| | 18 | 1938 | Gertrude K. Lathrop | Conserve wildlife | Antelope |
| | 19 | 1939 | Edward McCartan | Peace in the new world | War in the old world |
| | 20 | 1939 | John Gregory | Cere's blessing | Scarcity shall shun you |
| | 21 | 1940 | Edmond Amateis | Aesop's fable of hawk | Dog and reflection |
| | 22 | 1940 | Walker Hancock | Two men building | Overcoming adversity |
| | 23 | 1941 | Joseph E. Renier | Woman and child | Prometheus |
| | 24 | 1941 | Edwin Springweiler | Arctic-polar bear | Antarctic-penguins |
| | 25 | 1942 | Janet de Coux | Thou sluggard | Go to the ant |
| | 26 | 1942 | Brenda Putnam | Man with airplane | Bird in flight |
| | 27 | 1943 | Anna Hyatt Huntington | African elephant | Water hole |
| | 28 | 1943 | Carl L. Schmitz | Freedom of speech and religion | Freedom from want and fear |
| | 29 | 1944 | Richard Henry Recchia | Inspiration | Aspiration |
| | 30 | 1944 | Mahonri Young | Riggers | Riveters |
| | 31 | 1945 | Rene P. Chambellan | Flag raising on Iwo Jima | For conquer we must |
| | 32 | 1945 | Berthold Nebel | Wounded soldier | Atomic bomb explosion |
| | 33 | 1946 | Joseph Kiselewski | World peace | Dove and olive branch |
| | 34 | 1946 | Sidney Waugh | Privacy makes innocent | Nameless worthy |
| | 35 | 1947 | Bruce Moore | Eternal vigilance | Destruction |
| | 36 | 1947 | Henry Kreis | Wise virgins | Foolish virgins |
| | 37 | 1948 | Michael Lantz | John the Baptist | Salome |
| | 38 | 1948 | Thomas Lo Medico | Pursuit of happiness | Good will toward men |
| | 39 | 1949 | Adolph A. Weinman | Genesis | Web of destiny |
| | 40 | 1949 | Leo Friedlander | Harmony | Creates tranquility |
| | 41 | 1950 | Donal Hord | Man must sow | To reap |
| | 42 | 1950 | (in French) Cecil Howard | Peace is life | War is death |
| | 43 | 1951 | Albert A. Wein | God the creator | Creating heaven and Earth |
| | 44 | 1951 | Wheeler Williams | Madonna and child | Lamb |
| | 45 | 1952 | James Earl Fraser | Pony Express | New Frontiers |
| | 46 | 1952 | Karl Gruppe | Eagle | Boy Scouts |
| | 47 | 1953 | Gifford MacGregor Proctor | Fish | Dry fly lure |
| | 48 | 1953 | Peter Dalton | Brotherhood | Swords into ploughshares |
| | 49 | 1954 | Abram Belskie | Art goddess | Sculptor's tools |
| | 50 | 1954 | Ivan Meštrović | Socrates | Plato |
| | 51 | 1955 | Malvina Hoffman | Races of man | No man is an island |
| | 52 | 1955 | Georg J. Lober | Hans Christian Andersen | 150th Anniversary |
| | 53 | 1956 | John Angel | Adam and Eve | Annunciation of Virgin |
| | 54 | 1956 | Paul Fjelde | Walt Whitman | Leaves of Grass |
| | 55 | 1957 | Pietro Montana | St. Francis of Assisi at prayer | St. Francis and leper |
| | 56 | 1957 | Donald De Lue | Creator of universe | Creator of man |
| | 57 | 1958 | Charles Rudy | Year's at the spring | Day's at the morn |
| | 58 | 1958 | Jean de Marco | Clown with horn | Music and drama |
| | 59 | 1959 | Allan Houser | Apache fire dancer | Buffalo hunt |
| | 60 | 1959 | Katherine Weems | Puma | Wild fowl |
| | 61 | 1960 | Leo Lentelli | Romulus and Remus | Constantine the Great |
| | 62 | 1960 | Adlai S. Hardin | Three wisemen | Nativity |
| | 63 | 1961 | Adolph Block | Pilgrims landing | Holy cause of liberty |
| | 64 | 1961 | Nathaniel Choate | Goliath | David |
| | 65 | 1962 | Oronzio Maldarelli | Dancers | Bathers |
| | 66 | 1962 | Carl C. Mose | This our heritage | This our land |
| | 67 | 1963 | Karen Worth | To the stars | Spirit of the space age |
| | 68 | 1963 | Joseph Coletti | Glory of God | Great frigate bird |
| | 69 | 1964 | Robert A. Weinman | Honor to Socrates | Light of knowledge |
| | 70 | 1964 | Frank Eliscu | Underwater swimmer | Seascape |
| | 71 | 1965 | Margaret Christian Grigor | Alaska | Hawaii |
| | 72 | 1965 | Elizabeth Weistrop | Sower of the forest | Squirrels |
| | 73 | 1966 | Robert Lohman | Nature | Creativity |
| | 74 | 1966 | Ralph J. Menconi | Thomas Jefferson | Liberty |
| | 75 | 1967 | Herring Coe | Flying sauser | Hippocampus and mermaid |
| | 76 | 1967 | Donald R. Miller | Five forms of life | Wilderness is preservation |
| | 77 | 1968 | Nina Winkel | Girls dancing | Boys building |
| | 78 | 1968 | Terry Lies | Medical research | Spider and web |
| | 79 | 1969 | Bruno Mankowski | Paul Bunyan | Johnny Appleseed |
| | 80 | 1969 | Boris Buzan | Space control room | Astronaut on Moon |
| | 81 | 1970 | Julian Hoke Harris | Uncle Remus tales | Brer Rabbit in briar patch |
| | 82 | 1970 | Tom Allen, Jr. | Flame of life | Pro vita |
| | 83 | 1971 | Hal Reed | Four scientists | Unleashing the atom |
| | 84 | 1971 | Elbert Weinberg | Pandora one | Atomic cloud |
| | 85 | 1972 | Sten Jacobsson | Christ and multitude | Pagan joys |
| | 86 | 1972 | John Edward Svenson | Chilkat Chieftain | Indian carvings |
| | 87 | 1973 | Mico Kaufman | Youth with guitar | Soldier carrying wounded |
| | 88 | 1973 | Edward R. Grove | Alphabets of the world | English alphabet |
| | 89 | 1974 | Laszlo Ispanky | Girl in spring | Youth in fall |
| | 90 | 1974 | Stanley Bleifeld | Chinese philosophers | Chinese landscape |
| | 91 | 1975 | Frederick Shrady | Courage and hope | Bird in flight |
| | 92 | 1975 | Bruno Lucchesi | Couple embracing | Mother and baby |
| | 93 | 1976 | Harvey Weiss | Grasshopper | Whale |
| | 94 | 1976 | Anthony Notaro | Pilgrims | Mayflower |
| | 95 | 1977 | Harry Marinsky | Youth dreaming | Castle in Spain |
| | 96 | 1977 | Stephen Robin | Tutankhamun | Egyptian pectoral |
| | 97 | 1978 | Robert Cook | Music | Dance |
| | 98 | 1978 | Moissaye Marans | Dawn | Dusk |
| | 99 | 1979 | Donald A. Borja | Helios the Sun God | Solar energy |
| | 100 | 1979 | Linda Harper | Laughter | Tears |
| | 101 | 1980 | Marcel Jovine | Unicorn | Medieval procession |
| | 102 | 1980 | Edward Fenno Hoffman III | Alice in Wonderland | Winnie the Pooh |
| | 103 | 1981 | Laci de Gerenday | Cougar | Deer in woods |
| | 104 | 1981 | Elisabeth Gordon Chandler | Visual arts | Performing arts |
| | 105 | 1982 | John Cook | Faun with pipes | Man with mask |
| | 106 | 1982 | Don Everhart II | Dance of the dolphins | Dolphins leaping |
| | 107 | 1983 | Joseph Di Lorenzo | Excalibur | Camalot |
| | 108 | 1983 | Carter Jones | George Balanchine | Dancers |
| | 109 | 1984 | Dexter Jones | Clown | Harlequin and Columbine |
| | 110 | 1984 | Margaret C. Ellison | Bands of living creatures | Zodiac |
| | 111 | 1985 | Donald De Lue | Man bursting the bounds | Back of man |
| | 112 | 1985 | Richard McDermott Miller | Girl escaping man | Man capturing girl |
| | 113 | 1986 | Marika Somogyi | Woman looking in mirror | Devel watching thru mirror |
| | 114 | 1986 | Alex Shagin | Children circling globe | Earth from space |
| | 115 | 1987 | Robert A. Weinman | Cat and mouse | Cat behind cheese |
| | 116 | 1987 | Robert Cronbach | Sunrise | Moonrise |
| | 117 | 1988 | Leonda Finke | The Prodigal Son - departure | Emotional Reunion |
| | 118 | 1988 | Patrica Lewis-Verani | Snow - Eskimo and dog sled | Sand - Arab on Camel |
| | 119 | 1989 | Nicola d'Alton Moss | Charles Darwin | Giant Galapagos turtle |
| | 120 | 1989 | Keiichi Uryu | Man is Strength | Woman is Love and Beauty |
| | 121 | 1990 | Eugene Daub | Spirit of fire | Depiction of ice |
| | 122 | 1990 | Marcel Jovine | Michelangelo's Creation | Biblical prophesy |
| | 123 | 1991 | Michael Meszaros | Winding Staircase | Staircase Looking Down |
| | 124 | 1992 | Joseph Sheppard | Icarus flight toward the Sun | Icarus in free fall |
| | 125 | 1993 | Don Everhart III | Tyrannosaurus Rex | Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil |
| | 126 | 1993 | Karen Worth | Adam and Eve | Retribution |
| | 127 | 1994 | Amuhullah Haiderzad | The Old Kabul Bazaar | |
| | 128 | 1994 | Don Everhart II | Set of six dinosaur medals | Dinosaur fossils |
| | 129 | 1995 | Geri Gould | Last Supper | Nativity to Resurrection |
| SPECIAL | SP1 | 1950 | John Flanagan | Mark Twain Centenary | |
| ISSUES | SP2 | 1970 | Julian Hoke Harris | 40th Anniversary motif | Athenian Owl |
| | SP3 | 1976 | Marcel Jovine | Yankee Doodle | Tricorner Hat |
| | SP4 | 1980 | Chester Martin | Snail and Galaxy | Five Decades |
| | SP5 | 1980 | Edward R. Grove | Nature Montage | 50th Anniversary Sculptors |