M049
Bronze, UNC
76.2 mm (3.0”), 248.5 grams
OBVERSE: This medal was produced by The Franklin Mint in 2001 for the 2002 calendar year. The poetic words “MAN IS MADE OF EARTH, WATER, AIR AND FIRE, HIS BODY IS THE EARTH’S” encircle the sculptural image of Leonardo da Vinci’s original 1490 ink drawing of Vitruvian Man (L’Uomo Vitruviano). Earth, water, air, and fire are, of course, the four (historic and spiritual) elements of life. The year “2002” is at the top of the medal.
REVERSE: For a number of years The Franklin Mint produced an annual calendar medal. This year (2002), they chose a conservative square design, with the symbol for water framing the lower quadrant, the symbol for fire to the left, and the symbol for air to the right. Earth, at the top, is symbolized by vines. At the bottom of the medal, just to the left of the lower wave, is a tiny Franklin Mint mark “f” with a stretched “m” across the middle.
EDGE: The top edge is engraved “THE 2002 FRANKLIN MINT ANNUAL CALENDAR / ART MEDAL.” The bottom edge is engraved “SOLID BRONZE,” followed by “©,” The Franklin Mint mark within a square, and a “01” inside a rectangle, indicating the year minted.
