2025 ANNUAL MCA MEDAL: ARS ET MEMORIAE

"Ars et Memoriae"
By Susan Taylor
Bronze, struck; 3" (76.2 mm)
Edition size: 50
Price: $200. Including shipping within the domestic U.S.
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Purchase here: https://www.medalcollectors.org/membership/medals

Obverse:

Since the fifteenth century the medal, as a distinctive art form, has been a popular, versatile, extremely eAective, and compact means of disseminating information to a widespread audience traditionally, at least until the modern era, through a combination of low-relief and text.

With this purpose in mind, the Muse of History, CLIO, has here been modified to put aside the traditional tools of her means of communication, the scroll, a pen, and a bottle of ink, to become a visual artist sculpting the model for the reverse of this medal showing Pegasus.

Reverse:

At one point in his illustrious career, Pegasus, the offspring of Poseidon and Medusa, descended upon Mount Helicon, abode of the nine Muses, and, striking his hooves on the rocky hillside, created what became the Hippocrene Spring, which provided inspiration to the Muses. Pegasus thus became a symbol of poetic inspiration and creativity and the reason for his appearance on the reverse of this medal.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

As a retired Senior Engraver with the Royal Canadian Mint, Canadian Vice Delegate for the Fédération Internationale de Médaille, and past President of the Medallic Art Society of Canada, Susan Taylor is passionate about her craft as a Mint Engraver, sculptor of medals and portrait artist.

In addition to her career as a Senior Engraver, Susan has helped promote the medal as a means of expression in Canada and around the world. With over 40 years of experience designing, sculpting, producing coins and medals, Susan's work has been published in art catalogues and exhibited at international expositions. Recipient of the 2016 American Medal of the Year, her medal "Remembrance" is part of the medal collection at the British Museum, UK and the University Museum of Bergen, Norway. In 2023 Susan was awarded the COTY Lifetime Achievement Award for her "insight, skill and adaptability… through the many 21st century changes in technology…". (Numismatic News, March 14, 2023)

Recently in April 2025, Susan was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in "recognition for her valuable contributions to her country".

Susan has had the privilege of designing and sculpting several medals awarded in recognition of outstanding achievements for many global organizations including the Gairdner Foundation, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, Royal Canadian Mint, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the World Maritime University.

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