Here's another interesting item I came across in the marketplace this week. Unfortunately, only the obverse is pictured. -Editor
Description: Neville Chamberlain 1938 Plated Medal "Peace in Our Time’ by V. Demanet for Fisch, bust left Neville Chamberlain September 1938 around, PAX vertically in front, measures 7.5mm,
in good condition
The scratches detract from this medal, and it's fitting given that Chamberlain's reputation was devastated following WWII. There's nothing funny about war, but history is a funny thing
- one never really knows at the time when history is being made. The true course of events seems inevitable only in hindsight.
For more insight I reached across the pond to reader David Pickup, noting "My own country is so split right now the only thing certain is that in the future, half will say "I told you
so." whether they actually did or not." David's comments are below. Thank you! -Editor
The medallion is 75 mm not 7.5 mm. Victor Demanet was a Belgian sculptor and Frisch was a Belgian firm.
I think your comments are fair. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Lots of Conservatives are today saying that Theresa May was wrong to have a general election and her campaign was disappointing.
Whether they said it at the time is another question.
Chamberlain was one of a dynasty of Birmingham politicians, many of whom are commemorated on medallions.
Churchill put it like this about Chamberlain:
It fell to Neville Chamberlain in one of the supreme crises of the world to be contradicted by events, to be disappointed in his hopes, and to be deceived and cheated by a wicked man. But what
were these hopes in which he was disappointed? What were these wishes in which he was frustrated? What was that faith that was abused? They were surely among the most noble and benevolent instincts
of the human heart – the love of peace, the toil for peace, the strife for peace, the pursuit of peace, even at great peril, and certainly to the utter disdain of popularity or clamour. Whatever else
history may or may not say about these terrible, tremendous years, we can be sure that Neville Chamberlain acted with perfect sincerity according to his lights and strove to the utmost of his
capacity and authority, which were powerful, to save the world from the awful, devastating struggle in which we are now engaged.
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 279: Neville Chamberlain 1938 Plated Medal "Peace in Ou (http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/-1-c-45A4B21964/)
For more information on Neville Chamberlain, see:
Neville Chamberlain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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