THE CARNEGIE HERO FUND 100TH ANNIVERSARY MEDAL

Your editor was modest in his reply in last week's E-Sylum. It was because of him that led to a chain of events resulting in this medal. Wayne had been in frequent contact with the Executive Director of the Carnegie Hero Fund, Douglas Chambers, at the time. They were dissatisfied with the quality of the Carnegie Hero Fund Award Medals currently manufactured. Chambers asked Wayne for a recommendation of a medal manufacturer that could meet their standards.

Wayne suggested two firms and mentioned my name to assist in this project. Douglas contacted me, in our conversations I pointed out how one medal maker was better than the other of the two Wayne recommended, Greco Industries. Making the Hero Award Medals was tricky because of the required raised letters of the name on the reverse of each recipient, requiring individual insert dies and individual name inserts.

Douglas wanted to inspect the plant before his final decision. He asked that I attend the first meeting as well. Hugo Greco, proprietor of Greco Industries in Connecticut gave his finest presentation as he conducted Douglas through the process. The discussions revealed the Carnegie Hero Fund wanted two medals, a revision of their award medal, and a 100th anniversary medal.

Hugo and I both recommended a special patina finish for the anniversary medal. We were unaware that a board member of the Fund was a coin collector. He wanted a proof finish. We were overruled. Actually a proof finish is easier to make, thus less costly. We recommended a talented new sculptor who had been raised and trained in Italy, Luigi Badia, to create the models for both Carnegie Medal versions. Douglas accepted our recommendation. Later he gave Greco Industries the order, who commissioned medallist Badia right away.

After the medals were made and delivered the three of us, Hugo, Luigi and myself were invited to attend the Centennial ceremonies in Pittsburgh. Hugo couldn't make it, but Luigi, I and our wives did. The two-day affair culminated with a banquet. Historian David McCullough was the banquet speaker.

I have fond memories of that event. At the banquet table was Wayne and his wife Dee, Luigi and his wife Kandy, and my wife Shirley. Also at our table was David McCullough's brother. David visited our table, where each of us had a chance to chat with him.

Now in regard to the Anniversary Medal to answer Ron Thompson's inquiry in last week's E-Sylum. The medals were not solid silver and not silver clad, but heavy silver plated. Cladding has to be done on the strip before it is blanked and struck. Platting occurs after the piece is struck. There is no edge lettering on this medal identifying composition, which is legal. If it were solid silver it would have to be so indicated. Identifying clad pieces composition is optional but usually indicating the amount and thickness of the silver.

The only edge marks are a serial number. The medals were marketed in the coin field by Cytbercoins of Pittsburgh. They tell me the entire run of 500 have been completely sold out but there is some discussion for a reorder of the medal.

A lengthy article on the Carnegie Medals with many photos and more details was in the October 2006 issue of The Numismatist.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 : Silver-clad Carnegie Hero Fund 100th anniversary medal (http://cbt.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n37a14.html)

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