You can click medals to switch between obverse and reverse sides.
This medal was chosen as the 23rd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1941.
The obverse bears head of mother with closed eyes holding her child with long hand supporting head. Along left and right edges, PRO / PATRIA
The reverse depicts Prometheus chained to rock at ankles and wrists, attacked by eagle. At top, left, and right, PRO / HVMANI / TATE (mark composed of crossed flaming torches over bar); signed below, Joseph E. Renier. Sc. / ©
Renier dedicated this medal to "all those who contriute their something to life." He wrote in the medal's brochure:
"The underlying theme of this medal is the devotion of womanhood and manhood to country and to humanity. "
1941 was the year America officially entered World War II and the theme of "sacrifice" and "devotion" was lay heavily on people's minds. Prometheus' "For Humanity" applies to the legen just as it applied to how American's saw their involvement in the war.
This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company of New York which struck 849 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.
The medal's obverse was designed by Joseph E. Renier and bears conjoined busts of founding brothers, facing right. Around, · COMMEMORATING A HALF CENTURY PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY · / THOMAS W. PANGBORN - JOHN C. PANGBORN; signed at left over shoulder, (JER monogram)
The reverse was designed by Ralph J. Menconi and bears aireal view of the Pangborn facility in Hagerstown, Maryland. Above, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY / 1904 - 1954; around bottom, PANGBORN CORPORATION · HAGERSTOWN · MARYLAND; under plant, BLAST CLEANING AND / DUST CONTROL / EQUIPMENT
The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.
The Pangborn Corporation was founded in 1904 when Thomas W. Pangborn developed the process known as sandblasting, which combines compressed air and sand to clean metal by particle impact. He and his brother John co-founded the Pangborn Corporation in 1904 and it has survived to this day, now known as the Pangborn Group.
References: MACo 1954-042
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