TWO BRENNER PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS

 

As I have said before, one of the greatest parts of my job is working with the wide range of people who own numismatic material. And working at Stack's Bowers Galleries, that means I get to work with numismatic material as diverse as the folks who collected it. The subject of this week's U.S. Coin of the Week blog is the Charles Prioleau Collection, an incredible assemblage of the medallic work of famed American artist Victor David Brenner. Among numismatists, the ubiquitous Lincoln cent is his most well known work, but Brenner was prolific in his career, creating medals on a wide range of subjects.

Among the many great (and often quite rare) pieces in the Charles Prioleau Collection were two that really caught my eye. If you collect Brenner or presidential material be sure to check out our Summer Global Showcase Auction, as well as our September TAMS Collectors Choice Auction and November Showcase Auction.

The first item is a stunning framed 21-inch bronze portrait plaque of Theodore Roosevelt. This oversized portrait is reminiscent of the bust seen on the Panama Canal Service medal (cataloged as Smedley-80). But thanks to this larger format, the artist was able to treat his subject with much more care and exacting detail. Signed V.D. Brenner/ 1908 at the lower right, the 21 inch round plaque is centrally mounted to a 30"X30" wooden frame, which would make for a striking display in an office or gallery.

The second item is a 1909 Preserve, Protect, Defend plaque. Based on the medal of the same name, the obverse displays Brenner's Lincoln portrait that we know from the "penny" which has been in our pockets and wallets for over 100 years. The reverse shows a stormy sea hitting a cliff with an eagle about to take flight. In his article on the medallic works of Victor David Brenner, Smedley describes this as "one of Brenner's finest creations".

This item was described by Paul Cunningham in his reference Lincoln's Metallic Imagery as a "desk medal" as it is mounted with a stand that allows it to stand freely on a desk or curio. It features the obverse and reverse as uniface pieces that are mounted together with a column topped by an eagle. The Preserve, Protect, Defend medal as a type is rare in any format, in this "desk medal" format, it is quite possibly unique; it is certainly the first we can recall handling.

These two items straddle the line between numismatics, Presidential Americana, and medallic art. When you add that they feature two of America's most regarded presidents, we have no doubt that both will attract very strong bidding.

Be sure to look at all the items in the Charles Prioleau Collection, and remember selections will be offered in the Summer Global Showcase, the September TAMS Collectors Choice Auction, and the November Showcase Auctions.

To read the complete article, see:
Incredibly Rare Presidential Medallic Portrait Art (https://stacksbowers.com/incredibly-rare-presidential-medallic-portrait-art/)

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