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81
H
U.S. Mint Medals
closed wreath around an uninscribed center. U.S. MINT inscribed
at bottom.
This medal was awarded only in gold during the first period
(1882-88) of the Army Marksmanship medals and in gold and
silver during the second period (1889-?) In addition, Carlson
records the striking of 36 medals in copper. The reason for the
striking of this many copper specimens that were not awarded in
unknown. As this example is the only one in copper for which
we can find a record, we are inclined to believe that while 36
copper medals may indeed have been struck, not many of them
may have found their way outside of the Mint. In addition, a
white metal example is also known. (See our 37
th
Sale in 1984,
#1013.) $1000+)
353.
SECOND CLASS PRIZE CAVALRY COMPETITION.
MK-22. 41mm. Bronze. Unsigned. Choice About Uncirculated.
Obverse: SECOND CLASS PRIZE CAVALRY COMPETITION
around a classic pose of a kneeling rifleman to the right.
Carlson reports that gold medals were awarded through 1890, and
silver used after that. He reports three medals struck in copper.
We sold one of these medals in our 37
th
Sale in 1984
and, other than this example, have not seen another
since then! ($1000+)
354.
SECOND
CLASS
PRIZE
REVOLVER
MATCH
MARKSMANSHIP MEDAL.
MK-28. 38,2mm. Copper,
bronzed. Unsigned. Choice About Uncirculated. Obverse:
REVOLVER MATCH SECOND CLASS PRIZE around a
cavalryman on a horse aiming a pistol at an Indian wh0 is aiming
his bow and arrow at the cavalryman. Reverse: A closed wreath
around an uninscribed center.
66 of these medals were awarded in silver. Carlson records the
striking of but 3 of these in copper (not intended for award) This
is the only one of which we have a record. ($1000+)
Lot 353
355.
THIRD
CLASS
PRIZE
REVOLVER
MATCH
MARKSMANSHIP MEDAL.
MK-29. 38,2mm. Copper,
bronzed. Unsigned. About Uncirculated, but with a number of
tiny rim dents. Obverse: REVOLVER MATCH THIRD CLASS
PRIZE around a standing cavalryman aiming his pistol to the left.
He holds the reins of his horse with his left hand. Reverse: A
closed wreath around an uninscribed center.
This medal was awarded only in bronze, Carlson recording a total
of 132. This is one of only 3 unawarded specimens for which
Carlson had records. (I)
Lot 354
Lot 355
GALVANO PLAQUES FROM
THE ARCHIVES OF PRESIDENTIALART
MEDALS, INC.
O
ne of the distinct advantages of artists creating models of medals
oversize -- to be pantographically reduced to the size of a desired
die – is the model has an appealing and unique additional use. A
wall plaque can be made the exact size as the artist’s model.
Such a plaque is called a “galvano,” short for electrogalvanic cast. The
technology in the art field was developed in France in the 1880s and
brought to America, some say by Augustus St. Gaudens, more likely the
French-American sculptor Jules Edourd Roine.
Roine was a longtime partner of Henri Weil, one of the founders of
Medallic Art Company. It is this same firm, sixty years later, which made
these galvanos with a degree of experience unequalled by any other firm
in America.
The artist creates the bas-relief image in clay or wax, he casts this in
plaster. This model is replicated in metal, most always in copper, with
amazingly definition. All the detail in the model is reproduced in the
metal pattern with 99.9 percent of the artist’s original bas-relief image.
From this pattern a negative copper shell is made to be reduced on a die-
engraving pantograph for dies to strike medals.
From that same pattern
a positive shell is made as an exact copy of the artist’s model
.
The positive cast is exactly like the intended medal but in larger size. As
copper it is formed in galvanic tanks emerging the color of bright copper
red. Often it is given a light coating of lead on the back to strengthen
it. The galvano is then finished – given a
patina
often called a “French
finish” to highlight the relief and give its attractive brown color...
The collection of galvanos offered here includes a wide-ranging group of
historic American personalities. Each was commissioned by Presidential
Art Medals, Inc. for medals that were included in PAM’s popular medallic
series. Not one of these has been offered for sale in the five decades since