Society of Medalists issue 121. Oval, 73.8 x 63.5mm. Alexander 121. Rugged, high relief bearded face r. forming by roaring flame. Ruddy natural copper patina. Rev Facing craggy bearded visage dripping ice with stark antique silver patina. Daub wrote, “Joy-suffering, Hot-cold… everything in life is held in balance between extremes. Opposites! These powerful forces go back and forth in cycles. The medal is the ideal medium for this theme because of the two opposing sides…’’
“This haunting inspiration was the impetus for Fire and Ice. I would like this medal to be perceived… on levels beyond the physical earthly reality and transcend to the human and psychological. Fire equates Passion and Ice is Passivity… patination on opposite sides could maximize the qualities of hot and cold. The first time I saw the silver-plated Ice side it looked as if it had just been removed from a deep freeze. I thought my fingers would stick to it as when you touch a metal ice cube tray.”
Daub is among America’s most successful contemporary medalists, creating the Constitution Ratification Bicentennial Medal of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, 1987; the 1987 American Numismatic Society Statue of Liberty Centennial Medal; several Presidential portrait medals of the New York Numismatic Club including David T. Alexander, 43rd President; medallions for the 2009 David and Pat Alexander 32nd Anniversary and the Devorah Leah Alexander Memorial.
Maximum mintage would have been 2,500, though it is unlikely that this total was actually produced by collapsing Medallic Art Company.

Provenance: From an important Greenwich, CT estate.

Choice Uncirculated condition.