Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Miscellaneous Tokens and MedalsOF MERIT, 1915. Baxter 155. 70.5mm. Bronze. John Flanagan,Sc. Uniface. Choice Uncirculated. (MACO). SCHOOL ARTLEAGUE OF NEW YORK CITY around a depiction of a femaleart student sketching from a model in the surrounding of a sculpturestudio. FOR MERIT, belowBaxter comments that this medal is particularly noteworthy for therealistic treatment of its subject matter and is refreshingly originalin design. (F-G)shortly after Riley’s death in 1916.The medal is inserted in a thick die cut cardboard holder whichis housed in a cardboard 7 ¼ x 5” ,box which open like a bookthat bears a label on the front inscribed, THE RILEY/MEDAL.An 11 page pamphlet accompanies the medal entitled “A MEDALstruck in celebration of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the birth ofJames Whitcomb Riley, and done in bronze by Lorado Taft onthe commission of one hundred of the poet’s admiring fellowtownsmen. Five hundred proofs of the medal have been struck,of which this is number (inked) 319.” The pamphlet speaks to theRiley dinner, an extended discussion of the medal and a listing ofthe many members of the general and medals committees. This isthe first time we have seen the presentation box and the pamphlet.(G-H)Lot 443443. JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY MEDAL, 1916. Marqusee 373.69.3mm. Bronze. Lorado Taft, Sc. (MACO). About Uncirculated.The obverse bears the bust of Riley to the right, flanked by thedates 1849 1916. Legend: JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY. POETOF HOPE AND CHEER. LOVER AND FRIEND OF MANKIND.The reverse depicts a figure of Pan, sitting on a fence, playing aflute for a farmer and child.A charming and whimsical medal from the talented hand of LoradoTaft who is best known to medal collectors for his highly prizedGreat Lakes medal for the Society of Medalists. The medal wasstruck as a tribute to Riley on his 65 th birthday in 1915. A banquetwas held for that event and a decision was made to devise apermanent souvenir for distribution among the banqueters. LoredoTaft was commissioned to execute the medal which was deliveredLot 444444. THEODORE NEWTON VAIL PORTRAIT MEDAL BYTIFFANY, 1917. 76.7mm. Fine Silver. Struck by Tiffany & Co.About Uncirculated. Obverse with an imposing portrait of Vailwithin a sunken circle. A raised border is inscribed: THEODORENEWTON VAIL. HE MADE NEIGHBORS OF A HVNDRED125H