MORE ON THE SCHULMAN MEDALLIC HISTORY OF MONEY AND BANKING

I'd like to encourage Paul Bosco to recall the events he mentioned in last week's E-Sylum. He had a ringside seat to many numismatic bouts in New York City for the last three decades. His observations and commentary would certainly be of interest, irrespective if he was participant or observer.

I must correct his entry, however, on the Schulman series of medals, the Medallic History of Money and Banking. They were struck by Medallic Art Company not Franklin Mint as he stated (this negates two paragraphs of his entry).

The series began in 1971, issued monthly for 12 issues into 1972. The obverses were modeled by different sculptors, I have record of Patrick Whitaker creating number one, two and twelve. The reverse was modeled by Ramon Gordils from a single design, creating a common reverse for all. The choice of these sculptors tells me the series was on a fast track to prepare these quickly, rather than a more studied, artistic effort by perhaps a different set -- or a single sculptor.

In one of his statements, Hans Schulman stated that he choose Medallic Art Company because he could literally walk across Manhattan to Medallic Art's plant -- then at 325 East 45th Street -- from his office, then at 25 West 45th Street.

My records on this series are incomplete, and the reason for this is that Medallic Art was in a six-month planning and moving session during that first half of 1972 to relocate to Danbury Connecticut. This took place with the final day, June 2, 1972.

This had an effect on the Schulman series and reason for the fast-track sculpture, die making and striking before all the equipment was disassembled for the move to the new plant in Danbury.

At the time I cataloged the medals I had on hand and assigned the series a catalog number of 71-156. In 2000 the master number was revised to 1971-156. Each of the 12 medals carried their suffix serial number.

My appeal for information on this series mentioned in The E-Sylum brought a useful reply from Holly Ponsell, who earns my grateful appreciation. She furnished a scan of six pieces of literature, which, with my incomplete Medallic Art Company records, allowed me to piece together an account of this series I still cannot document fully who modeled issues three through eleven.

However, here is a list of the twelve medals in the series:

• 1971 Babylonian Marketplace Medal (obv by Patrick Whitaker, rev by Ramon Gordils) . . . .MAco 1971-156-001
• 1971 Croesus Establishes First Coinage Medal (obv by Patrick Whitaker, rev by Gordils) . . . MAco 1971-156-002
• 1971 Shekel Coin of 66-70 AD Medal . . . . . MAco 1971-156-003
• 1971 Marco Polo Discovers Paper Money Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-004
• 1971 Accounting by Van Reymersvalle Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAco 1971-156-005
• 1971 Leonardo da Vinci Invents Coin Stamper Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-006
• 1972 Rothschild Family Banking Dynasty Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-007
• 1972 Benjamin Franklin Medal. . . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-008
• 1972 David Rittenhouse Medal. . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-009
• 1972 American Gold Rush Medal. . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-010
• 1972 International Trade Dollar Medal. . . . . MAco 1971-156-011
• 1972 New York Stock Exchange Medal (obv by Patrick Whitaker, rev by Gordils) . . . . . . . . . MAco 1971-156-012

The common reverse features an Egyptian Pharaoh Treasurer weighing gold rings with a Calf's-head weight. The scene is an exact reproduction of an Egyptian tomb painting (about 1400 BC). At left is a box containing additional gold rings, and above are other symbols of wealth, including a libation saucer and a bolt of exotic cloth.

Again, with additional thanks to Holly Ponsell. And a closing statement how useful sales literature and contemporary advertising can be for medallic research.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: BOSCO ON THE SCHULMAN MEDALLIC HISTORY OF MONEY AND BANKING (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n18a13.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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