Ancient, Celtic, British and World Coins. Historical and Art Medals

United States of America, The Joy of Effort, 1914, a gold medal by Prof. R. Tait Mckenzie for Medallic Art Co, on behalf of the National Recreation Association, three naked atheletes leaping over a column, the joy of effort on scroll below, rev. for enriching the human spirit through recreation, etc., edge stamped 1/20, 77mm, 10ct, 144.0gm (cf. BDM VIII, 11). A superb study, extremely fine and extremely rare (£350-450)

R. Tait McKenzie (1867-1938), sculptor and medallist from Almonte, Ontario, qualified as a doctor and practised medicine from 1892 to 1904, when he became professor of physical education at the University of Pennsylvania. His first works were executed in 1902 and “he has an unusual technical knowledge. One particular type of physical development, the young college athlete, is continually before [McKenzie] as before no other sculptor. The director of physical training in a large institution has the nude almost as constantly before him as in Hellenic life.” (Forrer, BDM VIII, 8). McKenzie’s The Joy of Effort was first sculpted in 1912 to commemorate the Fifth Olympiad and an original bronze was set into the wall of the stadium at Stockholm. The work inspired a poem by Charles Wharton Stork, published in Century Magazine, July 1912 (BDM VIII, pp.11-12); a copy is sold with the lot. See Colour Plate VII

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