103636 | UNITED STATES. New Theatre of New York bronze Medal.

103636  |  UNITED STATES. New Theatre of New York bronze Medal. Issued 1909 (102mm, 314.2 g, 12h). By Bela Lyon Pratt for the American Numismatic Society, and struck by the Medallic Art Co.

 

Seminude female seated slightly right, head slightly left, holding up round mirror; 1909 arranged vertically to left; to right, THE / NEW / THEATRE / OF / NEW / YORK in six lines; ANS logo below; all within wreathed border // Cloaked and draped female figure standing facing, holding garlanded tablet; to left and right, nude child standing facing, holding curtain; oil lamp to inner left and right; all within wreathed border. Edge: Some filing marks as made, otherwise plain and trimmed.

 

Miller 25; cf. Marqusee 323 (smaller size); Forrer VIII, p. 145. Mint State. Pale brown surfaces, a few lightly scattered spots, but exceptionally pleasing and impressive; one of just 50 made in this format across both edge types, and of the slightly scarcer (trimmed) edge variant.

 

A name well known to most American collectors, Bela Lyon Pratt is most famous for his design of the Half and Quarter Eagle Indian-head designs from 1908 to 1929, which themselves were famous for their incuse nature, rather than being struck in relief. Here, however, Pratt instead shows off his skills in relief, and in the massive format that this medallic canvas allows. Just 50 examples in this larger diameter in bronze were issued, with some featuring an untrimmed edge, and others, like here, featuring a trimmed edge. The breakdown among the two is largely similar, though it is those with the trimmed edge that appear to be slightly more difficult to encounter. A stunning type that commemorates the New Theatre of New York, which actually closed just two years after its opening, before these medals even had the chance to be offered.

 

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Upload: 20 May 2026.

 

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