Mutt met Jeff at the usual time at the Swap Shop. It had been over a month since they had done the flea market, due to the hot weather and hurricane season. Florida had experienced four big ones - Charlie, Frances and Ivan and one other that must have been smaller as I can't remember its name.

With the slightly cooler weather, the venders were out in larger lots than during the real hot weather. Since Mutt and Jeff do the market for the exercise, if they don't find anything numismatic, it still ok. The coffee and conversation is still good.

The adventure was almost over when they came across a dealer in coins who by this time was well known to them and they to him. He usually greets them with the saying "I just sold everything to the other guy".

This time was different, he had a small medal. Mutt liked it as it was like "breaking the ice" and asked "how much?" The dealer said "I've been asking ten dollars, but to you three dollars". Mutt's response was "That's close, I was thinking of two dollars." He replied "lets split the difference". So Mutt purchased the medal for $2.50.

It was hours later, when they stopped for a second cup of coffee and this time in better light. So Jeff looked again at the medal. He said you did ok. The designers name on the medal is V D Brenner.

Mutt is still researching the item. He found that the ANS has an original plaquette c. 1909 110 x 162mm and a different small one dated 1921 with a reference Smedley13 .

The Art Students League of New York, since its inception in 1875 and throughout the 20th century, has been a major force in the course of events, which caused the art capital of the world to move from Europe to New York City.

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Jeff asked "Who was Haney?". Mutt's reply was " I still do not know, but someone will help me identify him." So Mutt posted the question on the Internet - Newsgroups - rec.collecting.coins. Hooray! A thread was started with a few fun comments, but finally the answer.

James Parton Haney 1869 - 1923, was an art educator. He was associated with the School Art League of New York City. He had at least one exhibition of his own drawings in Chicago, 1917. He also edited a book in 1908 titled: Art Education in the Public Schools of the United States. Haney was Secretary of The National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education and Director of Art and Manual Training for New York City Public Schools. The model of the medal, designed by VD Brenner was the large original plaque in the ANS collection c.1909 and is still being awarded by the School Art League of New York City.

The Brenner Haney Medal has gone through many varieties over the years. Originally established in 1909, the Haney Medal was first struck by Robert Stoll of New York City. This was the firm Victor Brenner worked for as a hand engraver when he first came to this country in 1889. He was employed by Stoll starting in 1892.

Brenner was a modeler. He learned to make a model oversize prior to 1900 in Paris and have the model reduced by pantographic reduction. He was the one who brought this technology to America.

Prior to 1917 the job came to Medallic Art Co to strike the medal. The year was in raised letters, as was the rest of the lettering on the reverse. This left a large reserve for the recipient, an art student, to have his own name engraved.

Brenner was proud of this medal and exhibited it at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Medals at the American Numismatic Society in 1910. In 1923 Haney's name was added to the reverse, previously it was called the "School Art League of New York City Craftsmanship Medal". After 1923 it was called the "Haney Medal."

Thanks to Dick Johnson for this additional information on the Haney Medal. Also thanks to The Numismatic Bibliomania Society and Wayne Homren.

The following link will show you a few of the medals and coins Mutt has given to the American Numismatic Society listed under the dewardt collection.