100115 | UNITED STATES. Peace is Life — War is Death silvered bronze Medal.

100115 | UNITED STATES. Society of Medalists silvered bronze Medal. Dated 1950. Peace is Life – War is Death (71mm, 215.98 g, 12h). By C. Howard.

 

PEACE IS LIFE, mother and father cradling infant between them; flower to left, grain ear to right / WAR IS DEATH, skull left among dismal landscape. Edge: SOCIETY OF MEDALISTS 42ND ISSUE 1950–CECIL HOWARD, SCULPTOR // MACO–NY–BRONZE.

 

Alexander SOM-42.3. Mint State. Bright silvering, with some scattered hairlines and a pleasing matte finish. Reported mintage of just 842 pieces.

 

Produced just after the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, the overall message of this powerful work of medallic art is fairly obvious. In the words of the sculptor himself, "...the theme of this medal is so obvious as to demand very little explanation. I should like to say, however, the 'Life' and 'Death' as here used, are intended to mean not only physical life and death, but the preservation or destruction of civilization and moral values as well. The dilemma of War versus Peace, with which my generation is now faced for the third time, should not be a national, but a human problem, and can only be solved by the human race as a whole." One wonders if we'll ever learn such lessons.

 

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