J. sanford saltus award

DEFINITION

A prize of the American Numismatic Society named for J. Sanford Saltus, one of the founders and librarian of the Salmagundi Club in New York City. It is the most prestigious award for medallic art, and was established in 1919 by J. Sanford Saltus, a dedicated member of the American Numismatic Society. He initially gave five-thousand dollars for striking the medals to give to distinguished medallist sculptors. James Earle Fraser was the first recipient, and Laura Gardin Fraser was the first woman to win the award. Other winners include Paul Manship, John F. Flanagan, Gertrude Lathrop and Sidney Waugh. Source: Donald Martin Reynolds, "Masters of American Sculpture"; AskART biographies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/