SOME INTERESTING MEDALS: SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA RELAY CARNIVAL PLAQUE

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA RELAY CARNIVAL AWARD PLAQUE, (1925.) Kozar 55; Var. of Greenslet GM-153. 8” Foundry cast Bronze. R. Tait McKenzie, Sc. Uniface. About Uncirculated. RELAY CARNIVAL/ FOUNDED 1895 above a seated figure of Benjamin Franklin presenting a laurel wreath to a line of four nude male athletes. Below: UNIVERSITY/ OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Plaques such as these were awarded to the high schools teams winning one of the relays. They were mounted on a walnut board and a silver plated plaque at top contained the names of the members of the winning team, while another plaque at the bottom was engraved with the name of the High School. This example is unmounted.

Alton G. Cook Vail Medal

AT&T’S THEODORE NEWTON VAIL MEDAL FOR NOTEWORTHY PUBLIC SERVICE, 1940. Baxter 184; Marqusee 394. 63.3mm. Fine Silver. A.A. Weinman, Sc (MACO) About Uncirculated with some light obverse tarnish.

The edge is engraved: "S93 – 1940" Obverse with a robust portrait of Vail at center, his name above and the Roman numeral dates for 1845 1920 to either side. The reverse composition depicts three allegorical figures representing Service, Devotion to Duty and Loyalty to Service. The three are holding telephone cables and are speeding the winged message over the wires. Below; a cartouche bears the engraved inscription, AWARDED TO/ “ALTON G. COOK”

This attractive medal was issued by the American Telephone & Telegraph Co, whose first president was Theodore Vail. The Vail medal is struck in Bronze, Silver and Gold and given to AT&T employees and organizations for noteworthy public service along with a sum of money. An article in the May 1922 Numismatist commented that, “This is considered one of the most noteworthy and important industrial issuances of medals that has taken place in recent years.

On Sept. 12, 1940 a severe explosion an d fire occurred in a large powder plant at Kenvil, NJ. 20 buildings were demolished, 51 workers were killed and over 200 were injured. Cook was one of six plant employees who risked their lives installing emergency telephones in aid of the rescue efforts. Each was awarded a silver medal and $500.

African Antelopes Art Medal

AFRICAN ANTELOPES ART MEDAL, 1936. CGI 3:372F. 47 x 82.7mm. Bronze. Maurice Thenot, Sc. (Paris Mint. Cornucopia & BRONZE edgemark.) About Uncirculated. Obverse: A herd of antelopes is shown running full speed across an African landscape.. Thenot executed this piece in 1936, as part of a series of ten plaques of African animals.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web