Jewish-American Hall of Fame Book Published
Jewish-American Hall of Fame medals issued from 1969 to 2019 have found homes in collections and museums around the world – becoming the longest continuing series of non-government art medals…
Jewish-American Hall of Fame medals issued from 1969 to 2019 have found homes in collections and museums around the world – becoming the longest continuing series of non-government art medals currently being issued in the world. Now, for the first time, biographies of more than 50 Jewish-American Hall of Fame inductees have been published, along with their portrait medals created by leading medalists, many of whom have won the Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture (presented by the American Numismatic Association) and the American Numismatic Society’s J. Sanford Saltus Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Art of the Medal.
The book, titled Medals of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame 1969-2019, was written by Mel Wacks, founder of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame. It also includes backstories of the medals – including correspondence with the medalists and preliminary artwork – adding to the appreciation of the final works of art. Mintages and mints are indicated for the benefit of collectors. In addition, the reader will find pictures and mintage data for more than three-dozen special medals commissioned by the Jewish-American Hall of Fame.
On the back cover, noted medal collector and scholar Donald Scarinci writes, “For those who are interested in American history, culture, art, and science, the Jewish-American Hall of Fame medals form a gallery of great Americans.”
Accordingly, the book features biographies about honorees such as physicist Albert Einstein, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, magician Houdini, Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, immunologist Jonas Salk, patriot Haym Salomon, entertainer Barbra Streisand and more.
The extensively illustrated, large 8-1/2” by 11” 150-page book was designed by Lianna Spurrier under the sponsorship of the Newman Numismatic Portal. It is available for $35 postpaid on Amazon. An author-autographed copy can be ordered by calling Wacks at (818) 225-1348.
