1950 Medal Peace & War Silvered Bronze Medallic Art Co., NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$114 SP66 08-22-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1950 silvered bronze medal by Medallic Art Company of New York depicts the theme of "Peace & War," produced in the early Cold War period when the contrast between peace and war was a dominant concern of American society. The Korean War began in June 1950, and the broader Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union created constant tension between the desire for peace and the reality of military preparedness. The silvered bronze composition — bronze coated with a thin silver layer — creates the bright appearance of silver at a fraction of the cost, making it a popular choice for presentation medals and commemoratives intended for broader distribution. The dual theme of peace and war was ideally suited to the two-sided format of a medal, with the obverse and reverse providing natural surfaces for contrasting imagery. Medallic Art Company's ability to translate abstract concepts like peace and war into compelling visual compositions demonstrated the artistic sophistication that distinguished the firm's work from ordinary commercial medal production. This medal documents the anxieties and aspirations of the early Cold War through the medium of medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Silvered bronze. Medallic Art Co. NY. Peace & War thematic medal from 1950. Cold War-era commemoratives. Moderately scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #627260