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Miscellaneous Tokens and Medals
with a few minor dark spots, as shown. The obverse depicts a
family seated by the fireside, the father telling some tale to his
daughter who leans against his knee, the mother listening as
she contemplates the little son on her lap. The reverse has the
angel of peace and good will, blessing the house as she moves
on high, bearing a palm in her hand. The motto, THERE’S
NO PLACE LIKE HOME is from the famous lines by John
Howard Payne. The medal is bound in the die cut page of
its original hard cover book which contains a discussion of
the medal and an appreciation of medallic art. The book is
in average condition. The pages in the front have become
detached from the spine. This was the second issue of the
Circle of Friends. (F)
407.
WILLIAMHOWARDTAFTPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITED
STATES BY SPICER-SIMSON, 1911.
155mm Foundry Cast
Bronze. Theodore Spicer-Simson, Sc. About Uncirculated with
some scattered spots that are not distracting. Uniface. Taft’s
portly countenance is shown in right profile. The surrounding
legend reads: *PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES * T.S.S.
FECIT * WILLIAM. HOWARD. TAFT * A.D. MCMXI. In tiny
letters below the truncation of the bust “Copyright. AD 1911. “
In his
Reminiscences,
Spicer-Simson states that he thought it
would be interesting to do President Taft’s portrait and arranged
to have Taft sit for him. “…but it was to be a great secret; not
even the journalists were to know. I went to the White House
and was introduced to Taft who allowed me to work during
private interviews. I was seated just beside him at a desk, while
at the back was a window overlooking the lawn of the White
House. This portrait relief of the President was reduced in size
and used as a button for the election campaign. A letter was sent
me from the White House thanking me for the portrait, saying
that it was “beautifully framed.
In our 2002 Auction Seventy One, we offered a similar piece
(#584) but which differed from this one in that on the reverse,
in raised script letters across the top, was inscribed T. SPICER
SIMSON NO. 21, This example has no such inscription. The
prior example realized $833.75.
408.
SAINT BRENDAN, THE NAVIGATOR - CIRCLE OF
FRIENDS MEDAL, 1911.
Alexander COF 3 but unlisted with
a plain edge.; Baxter 311. 69.8mm. Bronze. John Mowbray-
Clarke, Sc. Unc with a few minor spots. Obverse: Imaginary
bust of Saint Brendan facing front, holding a ship in his right
hand and a whale in his left. Latin legend around translates,
“Saint Brendan earliest revealer of America.” Reverse: Soul
of man symbolized by bird above figure of man with arms
outstretched. Glory above head, chalice to the right. HE
THAT SEEKETH SHALL FIND above. 5 line inscription
below. ( F )
409.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON GROLIER CLUB PLAQUE,
1911
. Smedley 93; Storer 1915. 185mm. Foundry Cast Bronze.
Victor D. Brenner, Sc. Uniface. Integral hanger with loop on the
reverse. Nice Uncirculated with an attractive light brown patina.
Portrait of Emerson facing half right. RALPH WALDO
EMERSON in a semi circle
Lot 407 (reduced)
Lot 409 (reduced)
Lot 408 (reduced)