Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-15


In 1915 and 1876 at the height Of the Centen-
mai excitement. sort of mania sprung up
| which deuged the country with medals of every
size, style and metal. designed to commemorate
the actions of Revolutionary heroes, or to pro-
vide each exhibitor at Philadelphia with a me-
mento OF the occasion. During the Revolution
airy war and the war of 1919 it was customary to
strike off medals concentrating victories by
land and sea. following the custom so prevalent
then as now in England and on the Continent
Gen. Scott. for instance, was honored by special
medals struck by resolutions of Congress after
several victories in the latter war. The CUSTOM
however, was apparently regarded as an exotic
one although it broke out in a spasmodic way
during the Mexican war. The medals in almost
every case were struck in accordance with a
special act of Congress, and never by voluntary
personal subscriptions from the people. as is
done abroad, each subscriber agreeing to pur:
chase at a fixed prize medal of gold. silver or
bronze, as the case may be. The fine set of nl-
tional medals. concentrating the series Of
English victories on the Continent from 1900 to
1913. was subscribed for in this way.
IGNORANT OF THE TRUE MEANING OF MEDALS
During the civil war comparatively few medals
were struck, and most of those were for pres
entation to individual officers or men in the
army or navy. In the general CONSERVATION
which prevailed, it seems as if there had been
no time for this species of display. As an emf
nent medallist said to Mail and Express repor-
ter the other day. most people did not and do
not now. understand fully the object of striking
medal. appreciate the value of such a
mement0. Those ordered by Congress previous
to 1876 were the result of a lingering cOnyen-
tional idea in the minds of some classically edu-
Gated legislators. who would initiate at a long
distance the customs of Athens and Of Rome.
Inc designs OF most American medals are, il is
to be feared, quite the reverse of classical.
Some unaesthetic statesmen would insist upon
an unconventional commOnsense design. by
figure or inscription. quite at variance with the
spirit of antiquity, and his taste would be en-
dorsed by the votes of hundreds Of his Hoosi er
or Yankee colleagues This. to certain extent,
is true now. Many commonplace objects, hav-
ing no emblematic value whatever. have crept
into use. For instance, the locomotive, the
steamship, pioughs and other agricultural i'm
plements OF exceedingly modern style, and
many everyday objects very far from clas-
steal models. There is also an occasional at
tempt made at realism in the depletion of actual
scenes which falls very short OF its object There
is a medal put into circulation under the aus
pices of a local historical society concentrating
the capture of Stony Point. On its diverse
there is a passable head Of Gen. Wayne and a
suitable English inscription; but the reverse
bears an alleged representation of the stOrming
Il
ridiculous puppets in the foreground playing
with an absurd feld-pece. aimed towards two
turrets on height apparently miles away. This
leaves hardly room for the polyglot inscription.
stony Point EXpugnatum, which can neither
be considered good Latin nor good English
Now come forward many private individuals,
demanding medals in accordance with their own
peculiar circumstances. One old gentleman
who experienced in February, 1876, the pleasure
OF having been married exactly fifty years. felt
1t necessary to have most remarkable medal
struck in honor of his golden wedding It bears
| On one side the names Of the bride and groom,
and the date of their marriage. On the other
are three interviewer rings, which bear the name
and the date Of birth of each of their children.
and few explanatory remarks One medal
was struck in gold. one in silver for each of the
children, and number in bronze were dstribu-
ted among the friends of the couple This eX-
ample has been initiated but once.
THE MANUFACTURE OF MEDALS.
The finest medals, both in design and execu-
ton. are made in France where engravers have
peculiar knack Of effecting a bold relief while
at the same time the stamp of the die is but lit
tie indented. Formerly all the work. both en-
craving and striking. was done by hand and
famous enSraver named Furst had monopoly
OF government work here for a number of
years. Some of the prices paid for dies are very
high. the engraver of single die often receiving
from $500 to 1000. Cheap medals in white
metal or bronze, which are fac SMILES of gold
or silver ones are quite popular The Catholic
medals. bearing images of the saints. etc. have
probably the most sale. Rival Garfield and
Hancock medals of cheap bronze had a great
run One engraver in the city is now at work
on medal to commemorate the completion of
the Brooklyn Bridge. 1t will bear upon the OBJ
verse faithful representation of the bridge
section OF each city. vessels in the river. etc.
and on the other historical inscription. This
is done entirely on speculation.
THE MECHANICAL PROCESS
The mechanical process of manufacturing
medals is substantially as follows: An Octago-
nal bar of solid steel, tempered to nicely, and
free from all flaws. is selected. On one end
round stamp of exactly the size of the intended
medal is turned out, and polished with great
care until it presents a perfectly smooth surface
The design tor one side Ct the medal. which is
first drawn accurately on transfer paper. is
etched upon the face of the stamp with fine
graver. The steel between the lines is then re-
moved carefully with various steel-cutting in
strunents and by filing, work which requires
the greatest experience. dexterty and judg-
ment. as upon it depends the relief of the fin
lshed medal. The letters and figures are
punched out with little steel dies. The surface
OF the die. of course, presents the design in re-
verse, which adds to the difficulty of the opera
ton die for the other side of the medal is
| made in precisely the same way.
HOW THE METAL Is TREATED
The metal to be used, whether gold silver or
bronze. is rolled out to the proper thickness.
| and round disks Of the exact size are punched
out of the sheet with circular steel dies. Proofs
of the dies for both the reverse and diverse of
the medal are taken in sealing wax and every
little imperfection which would tend to impair
the delicacy of the relief is removed. Then the
two dies are placed in position separated by
washer having hole in the center into which
the stamp of the die just fits, and which is of a
thickness just sufficient to allow the proper
amount Of pressure to be eXerted upon the
disks of metal used, which are inserted between
the two faces. The relative position of the
| figures on each side of the medal are determ-
ined by corresponding position of the sides of
| each die The whole affair is last put into
steam press of great power and the medals are
struck Off one by one. This work must be done
very carefully. as the beauty OF the finished
medal depends very much on this part of the
process. The amount OF power employed is, of
course regulated by the quality of the metal.
some hard bronzes requiring immense pressure
There are only two medallists in New York
who turn out complete medals of their own
m nlIfa ptrlra from, $hn