145 / 169
143
H
World. Rx: The Old World. Original pamphlet. (C-D)
1039. AFRICAN WATER HOLE, 1943.
SOM-27-1
.
73mm. Bronze. Anna
Hyatt Huntington, Sc. Choice Unc. Original box of issue. The
obverse bears an imposing view of an African elephant plodding
through the jungle grass, while the reverse depicts a variety of
African wildlife at a water hole.
This was the 27h issue of the Society of Medalists. It is one of the
few medals in the series to which there is no “story” attached. Mrs.
Huntington states, “African animals and their great variety of form
and color are an unending source of delight to the animalier and
personally, I am always happy when I can get the excuse to work
on them, so this composition was done from a selfish point of view
to amuse myself.”
Apparently, collectors have also be “amused” by this delightful
medal as it is one of the most popular in the series. (G)
1040. INSPIRATION AND ASPIRATION MEDAL, 1944.
73mm. Bronze.
Richard Recchia, Sc. (MACO). Choice Uncirculated. The obverse
bears a small bust of a man looping upward, the wings of inspiration
in the background. In exergue: THE COIN TIBERIUS. The
inscription, from
Ars Victrix
by Henry Austin Dobson, reads: THE
BUST/ OUTLASTS/ THE THRONE. ALL PASSES ART ALONE
ENDURING STAYS TO US. The reverse bears a figure of aspiring
Lot 1039 (reduced)
youth, standing on a pinnacle stretching upwards toward the stars.
Legend: TOO LOW THEY BUILD WHO BUILD BENEATH THE
STARS.
This was the 29th issue of the Society of Medalists. This medal
was originally struck in a 50mm size in silver, a departure from the
usual bronze because of the wartime shortage of that metal. In
1973, where the Society decided to strike a number of their medals
in silver (instead of the usual bronze), they also decided to issue
bronze medals for the two wartime silver emissions. 100 of these
medals were thus struck in bronze in this 73mm. size and 57 in the
smaller 50mm size. A similar piece brought $483.00 in our last
sale.
1041. SOM #34, PRIVACY MAKES INNOCENT, 1946.
SOM 34.1.
73mm. Bronze. Obverse: Privacy Makes Innocent. Reverse:
Nameless in Worthy Deeds Exceeds an Infamous History. 1,182
struck) (C-D)
1042. SOM #54, 1956.
SOM 54.1. 73mm. Bronze. Paul Fjelde, Sc.
Deep brown patina. Unc. Obv: Bust of Walt Whitman. Rx: Leaves
of Grass. 635 struck. (C)
1043. SOM #55, 1957.
SOM 55.1.
73mm. Bronze. Pietro Montana, Sc.
Lightly tarnished Unc. Obv: Saint at Prayer. Rx: St. Francis of
Assissi. Original pamphlet. 688 struck. (C)
1044.
THE CREATION
- SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS ISSUE #56 BY
DONALD DELUE, 1957.
Alexander SOM 56.1.
72.4mm. Bronze.
Donald De Lue, Sc. (MACO) Uncirculated. Original pamphlet. The
obverse depicts a male figure creating heaven and earth and the
legend: WHAT IS MAN THAT THOU ART MINDEFUL OF HIM (an
excerpt from the 8th Psalm.) The reverse shows a reclining male
Lot 1040 (reduced)
Lot 1044