SOME INTERESTING MEDALS: FEBRUARY 15, 2015

SPEED AND STRENGTH ART MEDAL BY McKenzie

SPEED AND STRENGTH ART MEDAL BY McKenzie. SOM #13. 73mm. Bronze. R. Tait McKenzie, Sc. (MACO). Nice Uncirculated. Original box.

According to the artist: "The last 50 years has shown a revival and spread of interest in competitive athletic sports and outdoor life that has no parallel in the history of the world. The Modern Olympic Games, celebrated for the 12th time this year, differ from those of ancient Greece which included only Greek citizens from the shores of the eastern end of the Mediterranean, chiefly because they bring together men and women as competitors from all five continents and of every color from black to white. In every land playgrounds and stadia have sprung up for the needs of both players and sport lovers."

"As one who has followed this great movement from its inception to maturity I have chosen two phases of it for the thirteenth medal issued by the Society. The subject of the obverse is SPEED, illustrated by a formalized frieze of four runners with three swans in full flight above their heads. A racing whippet is shown in the exergue. The reverse shows an athlete in characteristic pose, putting the shot, a strictly modern event on the athletic program, not practiced in antiquity. In the ground is the inscription, 'Rejoice, oh young man in thy youth," (Ecc. 11:9), with the monogram and date. $225.00

The Presidents Trophy

THE PRESIDENTS TROPHY, ND. 6 3/8 x 5 ½" Cast Bronze. Uniface. Rudolf Marschall, Sc. AU with minor spots.

THE PRESIDENTS/ TROPHY inscribed above the figure of a young woman with her arms extended holding a coronation wreath. An example of the plaque is in the collection of the American Numismatic Society where its inventory card identifies it as an athletic award issued by the Rumson (NJ) Country Club. Our understanding is that it was a golf tournament award. $225.00

Creation Medal by Anthony De Francisci

CREATION. SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS ISSUE #12, 1935. Alexander 12.2. 73mm. Silver Plated Bronze. Anthony De Francisci, Sc. Choice Uncirculated.

Original descriptive pamphlet. Obverse: Creation. Reverse: Swirling Universe. De Francisci states, "In choosing the subject of "Creation" for this medal I tried to crystallize in a few inches of space the general belief held by astronomers the world over that out of the gigantic masses of whirling matter, dotting various sections of our visible firmament, worlds come generally into being." "The advent of life, either in its rudimentary or complex organism, is based on the hypothesis that life could evolve and endure on all planets receiving heat and light from a central orb."

Virtually all of the SOM silver plated issues are tarnished – many unsightly so! This example is a gem – as nice as any we have seen. $120.00

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