THE WASHINGTON HALL OF FAME MEDAL

This medal honored the inauguration of the Hall of Fame and the building housing statues of the HoF inductees, all completed by the year 1900, the date of this medal. It was dedicated in 1901.

The building was originally the library on the campus of the New York University in the Bronx. The library was removed to a new building in 1972, leaving this building largely vacant, save for several university offices. It served as the site of the dedication ceremonies of new bust installations.

On the west side and extending on the north is the Colonnade with open segments where the busts of the HoF inductees are located. Of numismatic interests the majority of the sculptors of the busts were medallists, with coin engravers Augustus Saint-Gaudens, James E. Fraser, Laura Fraser, Hermon MacNeil, John Flanagan, and Chester Beach were among the bust artists,

The concept of the Hall of Fame was that of the first Chancellor, Dr. Henry Mitchell MacCracken. To his credit every aspect was well designed and executed. George Washington was the only inductee chosen by unanimous vote among 27 other inductees that first year,

It was an obvious choice to place Washington on this inaugural medal. It was to be high quality. Instead of making it in America MacCracken chose the Austrian Mint in Vienna, and Chief Engraver Anton Scharff (1845-1903) to create the medal.

It was struck in both silver and bronze. My silver version is one of my favorite possessions. As a medal dealer I sold six in bronze over a ten-year time.

The committee to name the new inductees met every fifth year, adding new Americas who met their concept of fame. Sculptors were commissioned to prepare bronze busts, these were installed in the Colonnade. Eighty-three had been chosen by 1960, 13 were added later.

Because of the popularity of collector medals in the 1960's a consortium of four organizations gathered to sponsor a series of medals of the Famous American inductees at the HoF. In eight years 3-inch medals were struck in bronze, 1¾-inch in bronze and silver of all 93 inductees.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) medal

The consortium consisted of New York University, which owned the HoF, the National Sculpture Society, whose members created the medals, Medallic Art Company, to strike the medals, and Coin & Currency, to market them.

The medals were to contain a portrait of the Famed American, the reverse a scene signifying their accomplishment. Other than the University's name there were no other restrictions, allowing the artists free reign to be as creative as possible. The entire series consists of 93 medals; these are illustrated in my list of series on the Medal Collectors of America website.

The Washington medal was a forerunner of the Hall of Fame medal series, not connected to the series. The medal honoring the start of the series, in effect, the Keystone Medal (1960-060) was created by Donald DeLue in 3¼-inch size.

The public can tour the Colonnade during daylight hours, class tours are encouraged from nearby schools. The HoF has an administrator; I became familiar with three consecutive administrators in the years approaching the HoF's centennial. Together we prepared plans to raise revenue for the Hof by establishing a gift shop and selling the medals at the site.

In 1973 New York University suffered financial trouble and sold the campus -- HoF included -- to New York State to be replaced by the Bronx Community College. Its new director was an academic administrator who had little interest in the HoF. She also had no desire for an entrepreneurial venture. To her profit was the antithesis of the grants and gifts received for the support of the College.

One of the ideas a HoF director and I had was to restrike that original Washington Medal, marking it in some way for the centennial. I contacted the Vienna Mint. Would you believe, they found the hundred-year-old dies in a museum! They were eager to work with us.

Unfortunately, our plan was rejected by Lady Administrator. You can't earn a profit for the Hall of Fame.

And today, the original Hall of fame is in limbo, as, perhaps twelve, fifteen hundred Halls of Fame exist in America, MacCracken did not trademark the name. His idea was so good it has been widely adopted. It is in public domain for anyone to use.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles see:
HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS MEDALS (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n23a23.html)
MORE ON HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS MEDALS (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n24a14.html)
MORE ON THE HALL OF FAME MEDALS (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n25a12.html)
MEDAL SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMAGRAM: AMERICANA : Washington Hall of Fame Medal (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n26a22.html)

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