MCA Advisory, June-July 2009

2009·1.6 MB·English

by  Medal Collectors of America

TheNewsletter ofMedal Collectors ofAmerica
Volume12Number 6 June/July2009
From the Editor 3
Board Members
JohnW.Adams,President
JohnSallay,VicePresident,[email protected]
Visit to Hermitage 3
BarryD.Tayman,Treasurer (by JohnW.Adams)
DavidT.Alexander,[email protected]
RobertF.Fritsch,[email protected]
First American Jewish Medal
DavidMenchell,[email protected]
4
ScottMiller,[email protected] (byMelWacks,NLG)
IraRezak,[email protected]
DonaldScarinci,[email protected]
Response to Medal Finishes Article
MichaelTurrini,[email protected]
BenjaminWeiss,Webmaster (byPeteSmith) 7
JohnW.Adams,Editor Historical and Commemorative
99HighStreet,11th floor
Medals on Display in Philadelphia
Boston,MA02110
[email protected] Museum of Art (byBenWeiss) 9
BarryTayman,Treasurer
3115NestlingPineCourt
EllicottCity,MD21042
Letters to the Editor 11
[email protected]
BenjaminWeiss,Webmaster
Calendar
[email protected]
Annual MeetingAugust7,2009 at3:30p.m.
Website: medalcollectors.org LosAngelesConventionCenter,LosAngeles,CA
EditorofCollectors’Guide, DickJohnson
([email protected])
Dues: $30.00/Year$50.00/2years
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CHECKOUTOURWEBSITEEVERYMONTH
1
2
From the Editor thecollections is encyclopedic. She
communicatedtous quitefluentlyinGerman
It was adelight tohearfrom Hank andFrench,unveilingonedelightfultray of
Spangerberger,atruepioneerinourhobbyand medals afteranother.
thewinnerin2007ofourCarl Carlson Award. Parenthetically,thewoodentrays and
Amongotherdelights, Hanksent us abill of
thecabinets weremarvelouslycrafted,befitting
saledated5/15/1971foraLibertas Americana suchaprestigious institution. Themedals were
medal. RichardPicker,theknowledgeable inopencardboardboxes, withattributions and
dealerwhosoldthemedaltoHank wrote: informationonprovenancebeneaththem.
Almost all UnitedStates medals are19th
DearHank,
centuryandlater. TheWarof1812is well
Thanks verymuchfortakingthepiece represented(nopieces insilver)andhadbeen
ofjunkoffmyhands. However,ifyoueverget viewedinanearliertimebyBobJulian. We
tiredofit,youknowI’ll beinterested. believedtheretobeaJohnPaul Jones medal in
Meanwhile,here’s thereceiptedbill. Oneof silverinthecollectionbut couldnot locateit.
thesedays I’m goingtoget aphotounit,and
Most ofourtimewas spent inviewing
whenIdo,ifyouwant aPNGcert.,I’ll ask you Europeanmedals, whicharearrangedby
tosendit back. St.L.was agoodshow,andso country. Wehadheardthat PetertheGreat had
was NY. Twoinarowis quiteunusual, assembledalargenumberofDutchmedals
perhaps things areturningaround. whilebuildingships inthat country,but this is
Kindest regards.
not thecase. Thereis arepresentative
collectionofDutchmedals obtainedfrom
Sincerely, various sources, noneattributedtoPeterI.
LiketheDutch,theBritish andFrench
Dick sections ofthecabinet weresolidwitha
numberofpeacetreatymedals, but lackingin
And,Ohyes, thepriceofthepiecewas $625. rarities. Theformerdidcontainalovely
exampleofPistrucci’s Waterloomedal in
Aquicksurveysuggests that attendance silver.
atourA.N.A.meetingin August will besparse. Throughout,Dr.Shchukina treatedus
Wesaythis not todiscourageyoubut,quitethe
withunflaggingpatienceandcourtesy. Her
opposite,toencourageyoutoshowupandbe husbandjokes that “hercradleis inthe
counted. If,Heavenforbid,thegroupis below Hermitage” and,wereit so, wecouldreadily
fifteenwewill standdrinks. believeit. This grandladyis afitting
representativeofaworldclass institution.
Visit to the Hermitage
(byJohnW.Adams)
OnJune27th,yeeditorandhis wife,
Regina,paidacall ontheCabinet at the
HermitageinSt.Petersburg,Russia. Wewere
privilegedindeedtobehostedbyProf.Dr.
EugeniaShchukina,thecuratorofWest
EuropeanandRussianMedals. Dr.Shchukina
speaks noEnglishbut,havingworkedinthe
department for59years (!!!),herknowledgeof
3
The First American Jewish Historical Society,areknown.(Daniel)
Friedenberg(1969,905; 1976,70)states that
Medal
this diewas madeas amemorial in1816,the
A Numismatic Trek …Where no
yearofSeixas’death.”
Researcher Has Gone Before IthengoogledtheSeixas medal,and
madetwo remarkablediscoveries. Thefirst
(ByMelWacksNLG)
negatedall previous references that thedie
As Robert Frost wrote,myrecent ownedbytheAmericanJewish Historic
researchtookmeonaroad“less traveledby Societywas commissionedbyColumbiain
andthat has madeall thedifference.” 1816,uponthedeathofGershom Mendes
Iwas awarethat theveryfirst American Seixas. Inthe EarlyProceedings of the
Jewish medal was issuedtohonorGershom AmericanPhilosophical Society2it states that
Mendes Seixas (1746-1816),thefirst native- onFeb.7,1812"M*- Seixas presentedan
bornJewish ministerintheUnitedStates. I impressioninpaperofadiecut byFürst inthis
knewthat theoriginal diefortheportrait side city(Philadelphia),ofhis fatherGershom M.
was inthecollectionoftheAmericanJewish Seixas, onaccount ofits superiorexecution."
Historical Society.Inthemid-1970s, whenthe Thus thediewas madesometimebeforethis
Jewish-AmericanHall ofFamewas preparing date,whichwas nearly4½years beforeSeixas
toissueamedal honoringSeixas, theAmerican died.
Jewish Historical Societymadethedie Secondly,aGoogle®Bookmatch
availabletomeandthus IaskedMedallicArt revealedanillustrationoftheSeixas medal3,
Companytomakeadieimpressioninlead.In accompaniedbythetext: “(Seixas’)portrait
addition,at least onesilvermedal was actually appears onabronzemedal struckbyColumbia
struckfrom thedie,andis nowinthecollection Universityinhis memory.”Remarkably,the
oftheAmericanJewish Historical Society(fig. pictureindicatedthat anewlegendhadbeen
1). This silvermedal was laterfeaturedon inscribedonthemedal afterit was struckfrom
AJHS membershipinvitations, whereit was thedie,reading“BORNJANUARY14TH,
describedas: “Medallionstruckfrom diemade 1745GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS DIED
forearliest knownAmericanmedal ofJewish JULY2ND,1816.” Whilethis hadbeen
interest.Cast byColumbiaCollegein1816to publishedin1962,it evidentlyremained
commemoratethedeathofGershom Mendes unknown tootherscholars.
Seixas, theMinisterofCongregationShearith Ithought it was timetogotothesource,
Israel inNewYorkCity,andaTrusteeofthe andemailedColumbiaUniversity.Iquickly
College.” But,it seemedthat noactual medal receivedareplyfrom JocelynK.Wilk,Public
struckfrom this diewas known. Services Archivist,whogavemethesurprising
Thus, Idecidedtowriteanarticleabout news that: “WehaveafileontheGershom
“TheMost Famous AmericanJewish Medal … Mendes SeixasawardandI'm fairlycertain
that wasNeverMade.”Andthat’s whenmy thereis informationabout themedal withinthe
researchadventurebegan. biographical filewehaveforSeixas. In
Thefirst thingIdidwas toask Dick addition,wehaveaphysical exampleofthis
Johnson, whohas anencyclopedicknowledge medal inourmedals collection.Sincethe
ofmedals andmedalists, ifheknewofany physical medal is storedinanoffsitelocation,
extant Seixas medals. Hekindlydirectedmeto pleaseadviseus ofwhenyoumight schedulea
theChris Neuzil oeuvre1whichIhappilyhad researchvisit so wecanretrieveit inadvance
sittinginmylibrary.Neuzil notedthat:“Only ofyourvisit.”
modernunifacestrikes from thisdie,whichis WhenIadvisedMs.Wilkthat Iwas
inthecollectionoftheAmericanJewish 3,000miles away,shekindlyagreedtoscanthe
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medal andsendmeapicture.Iaskedfora maystill haveabit furthertogoonthewinding
pictureofthereverseas well,iftherewas any roadless traveled toget thewholestoryofthe
design.Shescannedthemedal andsent methe first AmericanJewish medal.
picture(fig.2).
Ms.Wilkindicatedthat therewas no Sowhat has myresearch revealed?
reverse,but just anincusedversionofthe
obverse.Iaskedhertosendmeapicture 1. Thedieforthefirst AmericanJewish
anyway.WhenIreceivedthescanofthe medal,commemoratingGershom
incusedback(fig.3),it was evident from the Mendes Seixas, was not madein1816 –
sharpdetails that this was astruck“shell” it existedas earlyasFebruary7,1812.
medal,suchastheunifacesilver“shell”medal 2. Thereis noreason toassumethat the
madebyFürst,depictingabust ofGeorge diewas commissionedbyColumbiaor
Washingtonatopabroadpedestal,as initially eventhat themedal intheColumbia
describedinan1817catalogue.4 WhenImade Archives was madebyColumbia.
amirror-imageoftheincuseddesignsubtle 3. Thesilver“shell”medal inthe
variations that wereinthis positivediebecame Columbiaarchives was engravedafter
evident.Forinstance, theletteringAEAE(in thedeathofGershom Mendes Seixas on
HEBRAEAE)uses flat bottomedE’s onthe July2,1816on amedal that was made
front(fig.4)androundedbottoms ontheback sometimec.1812 –1816.
(mirror-imagedinfig.5); andwhilethesefront 4. WhileChris Neuzil indicates thesizeof
letters aresharp,thebackletters aredouble theGershom Mendes Seixas medal as
struck.Also, Seixas’eyebrows arefarmore 66mm.,mymeasurement ofthelead
texturedonthefront thantheback. impressionagrees withtherecords of
TheSeixas medal intheColumbia theAmericanPhilosophical Society,
Universityarchives was actuallyagift from that themedal is 68mm.
JudaicacollectorHarryFriedman,as notedina 5. Questionall “facts.”
letterdatedNovember30,19335andtherefore
thereis noevidencewhatsoeverthat it was ever Notes
commissionedbyColumbia.
SinceSeixas’son hadpresentedan 1. Chris Neuzil,Moritz Fürst’s American
impressioninpaperofadiecut byFürst ofhis Medals (Coinageof theAmericas
fatherat ameetingoftheAmerican Conferenceat theAmerican
Philosphical SocietyonFebruary7,1812,I NumismaticSociety,New York,
googledtheSocietyandfoundout that it was November 8-9,1997),p.106.
still inexistence. Valerie-AnneLutz van 2. EarlyProceedings of theAmerican
Ammers, HeadofManuscripts Processingand Philosophical Societyfor thePromotion
LibraryRegistrar,speedilyrespondedtomy of Useful Knowledge,CompiledbyOne
email andindicatedwhiletheydidnot havethe of theSecretaries, fromtheManuscript
saidpaperimpression,shehadarecordof an Minutes of its Meetings from1744to
embossedpapermedallionofGershom Mendes 1838(Philadelphia,1884),p.433.
Seixas, 6.8cm (211/16"),that was acquiredby 3. DavidBridgerPh.D.,editor, TheNew
MikvehIsrael Congregation(Philadelphia)in Jewish Encyclopedia(NewYork,
1972.Couldthis bethesameimpressionshown 1962),p.438.
bySeixas’son in1812?Does it havetheadded 4. Chris Neuzil, p.96-7.
inscription? Unfortunately,thearchivist of 5. From PhilipM. Hayden,Secretary,
MikvehIsrael indicates that he“couldnot find ColumbiaUniversityintheCityofNew
theitem oranyinformationabout it.”6Sowe YorktoJames T.Grady,505
5
Journalism,inwhichhestates inpart: theUniversityArchives, Columbia
“(Seixas)was aleadingHebrewRabi UniversityintheCityofNewYork)
(sic)ofhis period,andwas amemberof 5. Fürst: Gershom Mendes Seixas, c.
thegoverningboardofColumbia 1816,closeupmirrorimageofobverse
College,as oneoftheRegents ofthe (back),silver,68mm,Columbia
StateofNewYorkfrom 1784to1787 UniversityArchives, NewYork(photo:
andas Trusteefrom 1787to1815.The withpermissionoftheUniversity
medallionis insilverandinrelief, Archives, Columbiauniversityinthe
without anyreverse,andsigned,Furst, cityofNewYork.
apparentlythenameofthesculptor.The
President thinks that boththeTimes and
theAlumni News might usea
photographofthemedallion.”
6. Email totheauthorfromLouKessler
(April 15,2008),inwhichhegoes onto
state: “IhaveinquiredwithourRabbi,
ourParnas (president),andpast
Parnassim.Ihavealso inquiredwith
ClairePingleoftheNational Museum
ofAmericanJewish History(whichwas
underourauspices in1972).”
Figures
1. Fürst: Gershom Mendes Seixas, 1970s,
leadimpressionoforiginal dieinthe
collectionoftheAmericanJewish
Historical Society,80mm.(image
68mm.),Mel Wacks Collection,
Figure1
California(Photo: Mel Wacks)
2. Fürst: Gershom Mendes Seixas, c.1816,
obverse(front),silver,68mm.,
ColumbiaUniversityArchives, New
York(Photo: Withpermissionofthe
UniversityArchives, Columbia
UniversityintheCityofNewYork)
3. Fürst: Gershom Mendes Seixas, c.1816,
obverse(back),silver,68mm.,
ColumbiaUniversityArchives, New
York(Photo: Withpermissionofthe
UniversityArchives, Columbia
UniversityintheCityofNewYork)
4. Fürst: Gershom Mendes Seixas, c.1816,
mirrorimageofobverse(back),silver,
68mm,ColumbiaUniversityArchives,
NewYork(Photo: Withpermissionof
Figure2
6
Response to Medal Finishes
Article
(byPeteSmith)
IappreciatethearticlebyRayHerz on
“US Mint Medal Finishes 1860’s–2008.”This
is informationthat shouldbelearnedby
everyonewho collects thesemedals. WhileI
believethearticleis agoodstart,Iwouldlike
toaddafewcomments.
1. Color: Thecolorofmedals shownin
thephotographs is indistinguishablewhile
typical medals doshowavarianceincolor.I
don’t knowiftheproblem is withthemedals
selected,thephotographyorthereproduction.
Perhaps afuturearticlecanpresent abetter
representationofthecolordifferences.
Figure3
2. Finish: Referringtotheseall as
medal finishes maybeall right incommon
usage.Ibelieveatechnical discussionrequires
greaterdepth.Amedal finish is appliedafter
themedal is struck.The19thcenturymedals
describedas milkchocolatebrown,dark
chocolate,mahoganyorcherryhaveanapplied
patinafinish.
Coins donot receiveanappliedfinish.
Thus theterm “coinfinish”reallymeans
unfinished.The20th centurymedals are
unfinished.
3. Sandblasting: Bronzemedals maybe
sandblastedtopreparethem fortreatment with
Figure4 ammonium sulfide(orotherchemicals)which
turnthemedal black.Themedal is buffedto
removethecolorfrom highpoints andimpart
anantiquefinish inprotected areas. Idonot see
this finish onMint medals.
Forwhat wecall asandblast finish, I
believeit is thedies that weresandblasted.
Sandblastingastruckmedal without applyinga
finish woulddamagethesurfaces andhasten
toning.Myobservationis that thesurfaceof
sandblast finish medals haveraisedbumps
ratherthanpits.
Figure5
7
4. Toning: The20thcenturymedals 7. Surfaces: Thearticlerefers to
changecolorbecausetheunprotectedsurfaces surfacefinishes as proof-like,glossy,sandblast,
react toenvironmental conditions. Toningspots orsatin.Thesesurfaces wereonthedies and
maybefoundonmedals still inplyofim werenot addedtomedals aftertheywere
envelopes. The19thcenturypatinafinish struck.Twodiesproducedinthesameyear
protectedthemedal from toning,retained couldshowadifferenceinthedegreeof
original colorandrequirednospecial sandblastingortheappearanceofthestruck
packaging.. medals.
5. Transition: The19thcenturymedals 8. Improvement: Thearticlementioned
werestruckincopperandhavewhat is theimprovedappearanceseenina21stcentury
describedas abronzedfinish. Medals with medal.This sameimprovement has beenseen
proof-likesurfaces receivedwhat wemaycall as newhubs areusedforcoinagedies.
themahoganyfinish. Superintendant Oliver Apparentlyourcurrent Mint staffbelieves that
Bosbyshell orderedachangearound1892.The hairshouldhavetheappearanceofthefurrows
newmethodproducedamattefinish wenow inaplowedfield.Hairlacks thesubtlety
call achocolatebronzefinish. producedbyearlierandmoretalentedartists.
The20thcenturymedals werestruckin
bronzewithout afinish. Thechangecame 9. Unfinished: TheMid-Late20th
about whentheSecondPhiladelphiaMint was centurymedal describedas unfinishedis no
closedandthenewThirdPhiladelphiaMint less finishedthanothermedals producedsince
was openedin1901.Bronzedcoppermedals 1901.It just shows thepossiblevariations in
weresoldas lateas 1910but someofthese diesurfaces.
mayrepresent remainders from earlier
production. 10. Packaging: Ibelievethat original
Followingis aquotefrom Julian,page packagingis oftendiscardedorignored.The
XXIX: “Beforethenewbuildingwas finished, articleillustrates howthis packagingmaybe
assistant SecretaryoftheTreasuryFrankA. helpful todatemedals. It shouldberealized
Vanderlipmadeanofficial inspectiontourof that theMint oftenmaintainedastockof
theoldfacilities. Hedidnot appreciatewhat he medals so anearliermedal couldbeshippedin
sawbeingdonetobronzemedals inthemedal alaterpackage.Medals mayalso bestoredin
department.Uponhis returntoWashingtonhe boxes from adifferent era.
contactedthedirectorofthemint andordered
that thenewFrenchmethodoffinishingmedals 11. Discontinuation: Therehavebeen
(i.e.sandblasted)beadopted.Healso ordered several times inthepast whenlargegroups of
that real bronze,as opposedtothecopperused medals havebeendiscontinued.Aninformed
forthecopperbronzedmedals beused.” collectormaybeabletoacquirealong
discontinuedmedal forthepriceofcurrently
6. Green: Ihaveseenreferences toa stockedmedals. Perhaps afutureissueofthe
greenfinish onsomemedals from the1910- MCAAdvisorycanincludealistingofmedal
1920era.Idon’t knowifthis was atruegreen discontinuationdates.
orjust agreenershadeofbrown.Apparently
such medals areelusiveandhighlyprized.It is Thesearemyopinions. Iwould
also possibletoapplygreenpatinatoamedal appreciatecontributions from anyonewhomay
outsidetheMint. haveabetterunderstandingthanIdo.
8
[Pete–Thebreadth of yourinterests and Warinandthe largebronzemedal ofMazarinis
depth of yourknowledgeneverceases to byanunknownartist.TheFrenchportionof
amazeus. Ed.] this collectionincludes thebronzemedals of
Henri IVandMariedeMedici ontheBirthof
theDauphine (1603)bytherenownedFrench
Historical and Commemorative medallist GuillaumeDupre(2)andamedal of
Louis XIV,Massacreof theHuguenots bythe
Medals on Display in
wonderful Italianmedallist Giovanni Hamerani
Philadelphia Museum of Art
(9).This lattermedalserves as anexampleof
(byBenWeiss) religious bigotryinmedals as it appears to
celebrate,ratherthancondemn,themassacreof
Agroupofmedals from theCollection theFrenchProtestants (Huguenots)bythe
ofBenjaminWeiss has beenput ondisplayat CatholicLouis XIV ofFrance.
thePhiladelphiaMuseum ofArt,Philadelphia, Therearetwosilvermedals ofGustavus
Pennsylvania.Thedisplayconsists of16thand Adolphus, kingofSweden,bythegreat
17thcenturymedals from Italy,France, Germanbaroquemedallist SebastianDadler;
GermanyandTheNetherlands. Themedals oneis onhisVictoryintheBattleof Breitenfeld
maybefoundintheGalleryofEarlyEuropean (6)(issuedin1631)andtheother
Art.Thedisplayis apart ofBen's larger commemorates his Apotheosis (7)(issuedin
collectionofHistorical andCommemorative 1634); thelatterprobablyis oneofthefinest
Medals. examples ofGermanbaroquemedallicart of
Themedals havebeenplacedinthe theperiod.Therearealso two17thcentury
samevitreendisplaycabinet withsmall bronze bronzemedals bytheItalianmedallist
statues from thesameperiod,as manymuseum MassimilianoSoldani-Benzi ofQueen
curators considermedals tobe,infact,small Christina(3,4),thedaughterofGustavus
sculptures. Theywereselectedonthebasis of Adolphus, whoabdicatedherthroneandwent
theirartisticvalueandhowtheyrelatedtoother toliveinItalyinordertopracticeherCatholic
art objects inthemuseum.Forexample,the beliefs, apracticethat was forbiddenin
medal ofPietrodaCortonabyFrancois Cheron Protestant Sweden.
(8)was chosenbecauseCortona,alongwith Tocompletethedisplay,therearethree
PeterPaul Rubens, designedthewonderful 17thcenturysilvermedals byDutchartists: one
tapestries, depictingtheevents inthelifeof thought tobeenhavebeenengravedbyPierre
ConstantinetheGreat,that linethehall outside Aurytopropagandizethesavagekillingofthe
thegalleryofthemuseum.The16thcentury brothers, Cornelius andJohannDewitt,bythe
renaissance(c.1515)medal ofFrancis Iby supporters ofWilliam IIIofOrangein1672
Giovanni Pomedello(1)serves as a (11); onebyPietervanAbeeleofCharles IIof
complement totheportrait ofthis Frenchking Englandonhis restorationtothethronein1660
whichis inanadjoininggallery. (12); andonebyChristophAdolphzoon,
Thecollectionondisplayalso consists commemoratingthePeaceofBreda(13),
ofmedals ofthetwoimportant ministers ofthe endingtheSecondAnglo-DutchWarbetween
Frenchkings, Louis XIIIandLouis XIV, EnglandandTheNetherlands in1660.
namely,Cardinal Richelieu(10)andCardinal
Mazarin(5),respectively.TheoneofRichelieu
is inleadbythegreat Frenchmedallist Jean
9
BenWeiss with hismedalcollection inPhiladelphiaMuseum ofArt
Weiss Collection
10