SOME MORE SELECTIONS FROM PRESIDENTIAL AUCTION #85

Lot 464: ART DECO ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PLAQUE

ART DECO ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PLAQUE, ND. 8 ¾” Cast Bronze. Signed, “F. K. HE?DA” Two mounting screws affixed to the reverse. ACHIEVEMENT inscribed above two classical archers with their bows drawn. In the background is a skyscraper, industrial factory with smokestack and several tools emblematic of American industry. AZ ribbon below is inscribed AWARD.

This classic cast bronze plaque has all the hallmarks of high style Art Deco: repeated, stylized figures, allusions to classic Greece and Rome, stepped skyscrapers, and American industry.

Lot 490: REJECTED DESIGN OF THE ANS 125TH ANNIVERSARY MEDAL, 1983

REJECTED DESIGN OF THE ANS 125TH ANNIVERSARY MEDAL, 1983. A set of two uniface casts, each 72.8mm. Bronze. Marcel Jovine, Sc. Cast and patinated by Greco Industries. Uncirculated. Alan Stahl has described these as follows: “The two sides of the medal proposed by Jovine depict two stages in the production of a medal or of a coin, the engraving of the die and the striking of the blank.

In the presentation of the obverse, the surface of the medal becomes the actual die and the viewer becomes the engraver, looking down at his own hand raised in high relief carving into the die the oak leaf cluster that is the symbol of the American Numismatic Society.

On the reverse, the body of the striker follows the curve of the medal’s edge, while one arm of the screw press projects at an oblique angle.”

It was this design that was initially selected by the Society Medals Committee for the 125th Anniversary medal. To their great surprise, the design was rejected by the Council on various grounds, none of which were found particularly persuasive by the members of the Medals Committee. Nonetheless, they asked Jovine to submit another design which met the mandates of the Council.

Despite Council’s reaction, some members of the Medals Committee were so pleased with the rejected design that 12 sets of uniface casts were ordered from the artist. To our knowledge, this is only the second of that group to reach the auction block. We sold the first in our 2013 83rd Sale for $546.25.

Lot 555: YOUNG’S PIER FLIP-FLAP RAILWAY

CELLULOID PASS GOOD FOR ONE RIDE AT YOUNG’S PIER, ATLANTIC CITY. 2 x 3 ½” Near Mint. 2 x 3 ½” The colorful celluloid (made by Whitehead-Hoag) was valued at 10¢ - the price of one ride on the “Flip-Flap Railway.” A great display piece!

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SELECTIONS FROM PRESIDENTIAL AUCTION #85 (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n23a26.html)
MORE SELECTIONS FROM PRESIDENTIAL AUCTION #85 (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n24a37.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web