Medals relating to Peace

The obverse bears kneeling nude female figure gazing upwards in supplication. At bottom, PEACE; signed at bottom left, EMIL FUCHS

The reverse depicts a fight between two muscular nude male figures, one almost cowering, the other looming above him in almost theatrical pose. WAR inscribed in the exergue; signed at bottom left, EMIL FUCHS

The bottom edge is marked with "PAT PENDING" CARTIER NEW YORK - PARIS - LONDON; numbered 24 on left edge.

This medal was issued by Cartier and struck to commemorate the Treaty of Versailles marking the end of World War I. Miller also notes that

"Fuchs had previously submitted a design to the American Numismatic Society for its Peace medal. The Society eventually awarded the commission to Chester Beach. Although there is no documentation to support this theory, it is possible that this medal reflects that rejected design.

The medal measures 48mm x 70mm and was struck in bronze and silver by Cartier.

References: Miller 44, Baxter 322, Marqusee 190

This medal was the 40th medal officially issued by the American Numismatic Society.

The obverse bears a male astride winged horse, accompanied on sides by personifications of Justice and Peace. To left, JUSTICE with scales and wreath; to right, PEACE with (ANS seal); signed at lower right, (C B monogram)

The reverse shows a view of the Palace of Versailles where the World War I peace treaty was signed. Wreath around circumference. Above, PEACE OF VERSAILLES; on ribbon, 1919; below, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

The medal measures 63mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 113 in silver and 318 in bronze.

Many thanks to Brian Holt for the images of the bronze medal.

This medal was chosen as the 14th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1936.

The obverse bears man leaning on plow, gazing right toward military cemetery. To left and right, MAN - SEEKS / TO TURN - FROM THE / SAVAGERY - OF WAR; in exergue, 1936 / ©

The reverse bears winged female figure in flight over mountains, holding olive branch. In exergue, PEACE

Stewart's Message from the Artist was very brief:

"In arriving at the subject matter for a contemporary medal, I was guided by the belief that man's voice of protest against war is growing from and inaudible whisper to a resounding concordance, which may bring 'between all men peace and good fellowship.'"

The message was deeply felt and widely shared, yet 1936 was already giving a preview of the violence that was to engulf the world within a few years: Italy concquered Ethiopia, civil war raged in Spain, Japanese aggression against China, the Arab revolt against the British, and of course Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland were all portents of a world at strife.

The medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company. Its mintage is reported to be 968 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

This medal was chosen as the 16th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. The obverse bears five nude youths bearing father's bier. The youngest carries a laurel wreath. Around, IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS; at lower left, BEACH / © 1937. The reverse bears a gaunt father carrying son's body from the battlefield as vultures circle. Around, IN WAR THE FATHERS BURY THEIR SONS.

The brochure which acommpanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"The tought of the medal is a simple, universal one when men pause to think straight; for that reason I have designed the medal as of no particular period. The Greeks probably put it most tersely, 'In Peace the Sons bury the Fathers, in War the Fathers bury the Sons.' Are our young men to be buried almost before mature manhood, under long rows of stone crosses, or are they to round out their lives and in turn be buried in reverence by their sons in peace? A thought to keep well before our vision as present war clouds again surround us."

Chester Beach put it well but what were the old men and the young men to do when young men far away were being led towards war by their leader?

Struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York, the reported production quantity of this medal is 941 in bronze and 100 in silver.

This medal was chosen as the 19th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1939.

The obverse bears kneeling mother with child cowering before Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in sky above; serpent-like gas mask at her knee, castle and ancient ruin in background. In exergue, THE OLD WORLD / 1939; in lower field, E. McCARTAN / ©

The reverse bears mother in 1930s dress with book and child, basket of flowers by her knee, skyscrapers left, forst right, under radiant sun. In exergue, THE NEW WORLD / 1939

At the time this medal was being designed the situation on the European continent had deteriorated so much that all-out war seemed likely. America seemed far-removed from the insecurities and problems that the old world was facing. Americans looked over the Atlantic and were very much disinclined to get involved in yet another Great War. As McCartan wrote in his "From the Artist":

"The broad Atlantic Ocean thankfully isolates is from forces which destroy life and liberty and which impede the normal pursuit of happiness."

Of course, it did not turn out quite the way McCartan and many fellow Americans had hoped. America officially entered World War II in 1941 after already having provided substantial material assistance to its European Allies.

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported production quantity of this medal is 943 pieces in bronze and 100 in silver.

This medal was chosen as the 33rd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1946.

The obverse shows Peace in flowing tunic hovering on clouds before world globe. Around, WORLD PEACE

The reverse bears dove and olive spray on book, rays behind. Around, PEACE ON EARTH, AMONG MEN OF GOOD WILL; signed below, JK / ©

World War II had finally come to a conlusion and the world was exhausted... and relieved. Kiselewski tried to capture the optimistic attitude that seemed to point towards a future that could only be better than what lay behind. In his "From the Artist" he wrote:

"The war was over; the misery and horror had gone. I have tried to portray a simple and cheerful 'World Peace' which would rest the mind from the dismal past and look only to the bright future."

The medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 802 pieces in bronze and 60 in silver.

This medal was chosen as the 42nd issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1950.

The obverse bears man and woman holding baby; daisy at l., ear of wheat at r. Above, PEACE / IS / LIFE; below, © HOWARD

The reverse bears skull with gaping jaw; landscape with burning buildings, steeple, dead tree. Above, WAR / IS / DEATH

In the brochure accompanying the medal Howard wrote:

"The theme of this medal is so obvious as to demand very little explanation. I should like to say, however, the 'Life' and 'Death' as here used, are intended to mean not only physical life and death, but the preservation or destruction of civilization and moral values as well."

The medal measures 72mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its reported mintage is 842 pieces in silver-plated bronze.

This medal was chosen as the 44th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1939. The obverse bears the Madonna with child. The reverse bears a lamb resting in a field. Above, PEACE ON EARTH.

The reported production quantity of this medal is 750 pieces in bronze.

This medal was chosen as the 48th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1953. The obverse bears lightly draped man clasping hand of nude man holding olive branch. Around, TO BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR / BRETHREN / TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY; between heads, PSALM 133; below right figure, © P.D.

The reverse bears a plow over an olive spray. Around, THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS / INTO PLOUGHSHARES; to left, © P D

Peter Dalton stated in his message "From the Artist":

"With the survival of the world so dependent on peaceful means, the verse from the 133rd Psalm seems to take on added significance."

This medal measures 73mm in diameter and was produced by the Medallic Art Company which struck 657 pieces in bronze.

The plaque bears likenes of Lawrence S. Mayers facing left. Above, THE LAWRENCE S. MAYERS / PEACE AWARD; below, FOR DISTRINGUISHED EFFORT / IN THE INTEREST OF WORLD / PEACE.

I could not find ot much about this plaque's subject or creator. The award seems to have been awarded in the 1950s and 1960s. I found a report of a journalist being a recipient and also a newspaper article about a high school senior receiving the award for winning an essay contest. The award was apparently fairly high profile, with Vice President Nixon presiding over the 1954 award ceremony.

Any additional information about the award or the sculptor would be welcome.

This plaque measures 45mm x 64mm and was struck by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.