Popular Science Award Appraisal

Popular Science Monthly Gold Medal awarded to George R. Minot

This is an exceptionally rare exhibition-quality award medal rendered in solid 14k yellow gold, weighing approximately 83 grams. The obverse of the medal features a striking Art Deco design depicting a stylized, muscular male figure in flight, seemingly representing the spirit of scientific progress or human ingenuity, set against a background of lightning bolts or energy rays. The edge is inscribed with the text 'POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY'. Based on the provenance provided, this medal was awarded to George Minot, likely Dr. George R. Minot, the Nobel Prize-winning physician noted for his work on anemia. The piece demonstrates high-relief minting craftsmanship characteristic of early-to-mid 20th-century American commemorative medals, specifically around 1930. The gold has a warm, deep luster with a light patina consistent with age. There are no major gouges or scratches visible on the strike, though minor handling wear (light micro-abrasions) is present on the high points of the relief. The medal is circular with a smooth rim and lacks a suspension loop, indicating it was intended for table display or placement in a fitted presentation case. Its significant bullion weight, combined with the extreme historical importance of the recipient, makes it a premier specimen for collectors of scientific history or numismatic gold.