Owner Comments:
Medal, Plaquette, 1912, Bronze, U.S. (7th in Circle of Friends Series-RARE), ABDUL BAHA - CIRCLE OF FRIENDS MEDAL, 1912. Bronze. Medallist: Louis Potter, Sc. (Davison). Virtually Mint State. Obv: Bust of Abdul Baha facing left within an ornamental arch. In exergue: ABDUL BAHA/ PERSIAN REFORMER APOSTLE OF PEACE/ TRIBUTE FROM THE C. OF C. OF M./MCMXII; Rv: Figure in oriental robes facing front holding an olive branch in an oriental archway, symbolizing peace and unity of all faiths. Below: LOVE. PEACE. UNITY. This was the seventh issue in the Circle of Friends series. Edge: J.K. Davison, Phila.
The Circle of Friends of the Medallion was formed in Manhattan in 1909. They were self-described as ...”a band of artists and lovers of the arts, of both sexes, who hope to encourage in the public a taste for small sculptures and especially bas-relief.” The designs were chosen by a committee and the medals issued by the Circle went to members only, without charge beyond the annual dues. The Circle issued twelve medals each in a limited edition of 500, some of them historical, others expressing abstract ideas. The medals, when issued, were housed in pasteboard holders in books which also included letterpress describing the theme of each medal and information about the sculptor who designed it. Stamped in gold on the cover of the twelve books is a portrait in medallic form of Pisanello, the Italian Renaissance sculptor who first developed the commemorative medal from the coin. The series ended in 1915.
1 1909 (Sept) John Flanagan Hudson-Fulton Celebration 70mm
2 1910 (May) Isidore Konti Wanderer Returns Home 70mm
3 1911 (Mar) John Mowbray-Clark Saint Brendan, hero of Irish navigation 70mm
4 1911 (May) Victor David Brenner Motherhood, a universal theme 70mm
5 1911 (Nov) Jules Édouard Roiné Marquis de Lafayette, French statesman 77x47mm
6 1912 (June) John S. Conway Charles Dickens, English novelist 70mm
7 1912 (Nov) Louis Potter Abdul Baha, Persia reformer 76x51mm
8 1913 (June) Siguro Neandross The Ocean 70mm
9 1913 (Dec) René Theophile De Quélin John Fremont, American explorer 57x76mm
10. 1914. (June) John Mowbray-Clark Centennial - British Peace 70mm
11 1914 (Dec) Paul Manship New Netherlands 250th Anniversary 70mm
12 1915 (June) Allan G. Newman Joan of Arc, French heroine 70mm
Additional Info: No more than 500 of any of medals were issued. Allan Newman’s number twelve is the scarcest. Victor Brenner’s number four, Motherhood, is the most popular. Paul Manship’s number eleven is the most expensive (sought after by art galleries). Members of the Bahai religion seek issue number seven, of Abdul Baha, since their religion did not sanction portraits.
Edgelettering varies. The first two issues bear a diamond-D mintmark of the Deitsch brothers (later reissues bear a Medallic Art Company name). Davison’s usually spelled out their last name in full. Issue number twelve is, of course, signed Medallic Art Company.