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International Airport Dedication - 1948 - New York City, NY
Medal sponsored and issued by Port of New York Authority; designed by Julio Kilenyi, New York sculptor; struck by Robbins Co., Attleboro, Mass.
Authority is self-supporting, public corporate agency of New York and New Jersey; created 1921 "to deal with terminal and transportation facilities...to improve and protect commerce of the...Port District"; operates 4 airports, 2 heliports, 4 bridges, 2 vehicular tunnels, 1 railroad and 10 bus, truck and marine terminals. Idlewild International Airport was dedicated July 31, 1948 during International Air Exposition as part of New York’s "Golden Anniversary" (Greater New York formed Jan. 1, 1898 by organization of adjacent counties into 5 boroughs of N. Y.). Today, airport handles 10,000,000 passengers and 300,000 airplanes annually.
Medal struck in 3 in. and 1% in. sizes; Silver specimens of former presented to high Federal and state officials while Bronze pieces given other guests. "Several thousand" medals struck in 1/8 in. size, Gilt only, mostly "with key chain loops"; distributed to general public both at dedication and "later at Golden Exposition which ran for over a month in Grand Central Palace, N. Y. C." Port Authority advised that none of these medals was sold. Plain specimens, not looped, are quite rare.
Obverse: In center is an involved shield-like design; above New York / International / Airport; on shield, at top, small Dedication / July 31 1948; on l. panel of shield Size / 4900 Acres / Terminal Area / 160 Acres; on r. panel of shield 10 Miles / of Runways / Cost / $160,000,000; below Construction Started / by the City of New York / April 1942; border legend The Port of New York Authority
Reverse: Clouds at top above large radar-like installation; below, at extreme l. border, microscopic Kilenyi; at extreme bottom border, around to r., small © New York International Airport
HK-499 - Gilt. Size 22.
 
Image provided by John Dean
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