OCTOBER 2018 MEDAL SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMAGRAM

PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE FULL ISSUE PREV FULL ISSUE

V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 40, October 7, 2018, Article 21

Jeremy Bostwick forwarded along these four medals from the recent additions to his site at Numismagram. An array of attractive art and historical medals, along with a few plaques, are available for your consideration, and cover some interesting topics such as architecture, Napoleonica, Americana, and of course, Washingtoniana. Visit numismagram.com/inventory/ to view all of them. -Editor

100388 | AUSTRIA. Wien (Vienna). Gambrinus gilt bronze Medal. Gambrinus (legendary king of Flanders known for his mythical brewing abilities) standing facing, in regal attire, head right, holding chalice of beer and resting hand upon shield to right, surrounded by hop vines with cones and inscribed BRAUER & HOPFEN-ZEITUNG / Gambrinus / Wien / GEGRÜNDET 1874; Gothic portico in background / EIGENTHÜMER & REDACTEURE S. SPITZ & A. LICHTBLAU (Spitz & Lichtblau, owners and editors), „GAMBRINUS” IM LEBEN WARD ICH GENANNT, / EIN KÖNIG IN FLANDERN UND BRABANT. / AUS GERSTEN HAB’ICH MALZ GEMACHT / UND DAS BIERBRAUEN DARAUS ERDACHT. / DRUM KÖNNEN DIE BRAUER MIT WAHRHEIT SAGEN / DASS SIE EINEN KÖNIGZUM MEISTER HABEN! (Gambrinus was, in life I say, a king of Flanders and Brabant. Made from malted barley, the brewing of beer is thus begun. Go forth and tell the brewers verily that you have a king of masters!) in six lines; garlanded chalice above; all within wreath comprised of barley grains hop vines with cones, and with shield containing mash paddle at base. Edge: Plain.

Wurzbach 9582. Choice Mint State. Lustrous yellow-bronze surfaces, with an alluring radiance.

Essentially a 'BeerAdvocate' of its time, the Brauer & Hopfen-Zeitung (Brewer and Hop Journal) Gambrinus was an Austrian publication which focused on the beer industry not just within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but throughout Europe as well. For its name, the editors chose Gambrinus, the legendary king of Flanders and Brabant who was emblematic with joviality and the art of brewing.

What's your superpower? Mythical brewing abilities! -Editor

100406 | BELGIUM & THE NETHERLANDS. Silver Medal. Issued 1907. The Belgo-Dutch Society of the Friends of Medallic Art: The Peace Conference at the Hague (64mm, 110.02 g, 12h). By Hippolyte le Roy.

Swords to Plowshares: War seated right upon plinth, in attitude of contemplation, cradling reversed sword and with shield to right; behind him, Peace standing right, holding branch and pointing out to him a different path; farmhand plowing in background to right; PRO PACE (for peace) in exergue / SPES (hope), ship under sail right upon tempestuous seas; in background, rising sun emerging from the clouds and horizon; in three lines in exergue, SOCIÉTÉ HOLLANDO BELGE / DES AMIS DE LA MÉDAILLE / D'ART. Edge: Plain, though a light mark is noted for completenes.

Médailles historiques de Belgique III 26; cf. Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Contemporary Medals p. 194, 9 (bronze). Choice Mint State. Sublimely matte surfaces, with an attractive steel-gray cabinet appeal and rainbow tone near the peripheries. Extremely rare and interesting, with a mintage of just 51 pieces in silver. Compare to a similar example in Schulman 356 (29 June 2018), lot 1168 (which realized a hammer of €1,400 [plus buyer's fee]).

Proposed by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, the Second Hague Peace Conference didn't convene until 1907 due to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Called to order by Czar Nicholai II of Russia, the conference sat for four months, during which it further addressed the rules of engagement during warfare and its aftermath, such as several naval-related tactics and outcomes, while stopping short of reaffirming the ban of expanding bullets and asphyxiating gas (both of which had been outlawed at the previous Hague Peace Conference in 1899). The hope expressed at this conference, conveyed through this gorgeous medal, was met with despair just a few years later with the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

A sadly beautiful medal. -Editor

100405 | SWEDEN. Oscar II silver Award Medal. Issued circa 1905-1907. Presented for Horse Breeding (43mm, 40.02 g, 12h). By A. Lindberg & L. Ahlborn. OSCAR II SVERIGES GÖT O VEND KONUNG, bare head left / FÖR HÄSTAFVELNS FRÄMJANDE (for horse breeding), horse standing left; PRISBELÖNING (award). Edge: Plain.

Choice Proof. Exceedingly lustrous and mirrored, with supremely frosted devices and an alluring burnt sienna and deep crimson tone near the peripheries; a fair number of hairlines in the fields are noted.

Awarded annually by the Stuteri Öfverstyrelsen (stud farm executive board), these medals were a continuation of the ideals originally promoted in the 17th century in order to foster a strong supply of horses for the Swedish cavalry. Enacted by decree in 1872, and officially instituted by 1875, these hästmedaljer ("horse medals") were presented, in silver and bronze, to the owners of deceased young horses that were considered by the board to be worthy of such honor and distinction.

100435 | UNITED STATES. George Washington bronze Medal. Restrike issue, struck circa 1859-1870. Sansom/The Presidency Relinquished (40.8mm, 12h). By J. Reich.

G WASHINGTON PRES UNIT STA, uniformed bust right / COMMISS RESIGNED PRESIDENCY RELINQ, draped plinth decorated with Union shield and surmoutned by wreath, sword, and fasces. Edge: Plain.

Musante GW-59; Baker 72A; Julian PR-1. Graded NGC PF64 Red Bronze. Deep red-brown surfaces, with immense luster and brilliance. For cert verification, please follow this link: .ngccoin.com/certlookup/1820209-039/64/.

The dies for this ever-popular and alluring piece were originally engraved by John Reich in 1807. Half a century later, a new reverse die was created using hubs taken from the original, and a series of restrikes and off-metal strikes were produced over the decade of the 1860's. A keystone example within the field of Washingtoniana.