NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: DECEMBER 2020

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V23 2020 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 49, December 6, 2020, Article 24

Numismagram's Jeremy Bostwick forwarded these highlights from his most recent December upload of new material. In addition to the mix of items below, one will find a particular concentration in Art Nouveau and Art Deco medals, as well as a few items relating to the early days of space exploration. To view all of these new medals, please visit numismagram.com/inventory . -Editor

101373 | AUSTRALIA. Hutt River Province. Prince Leonard silver 30 Dollars. Issued 1977 (39mm, 32.64 g, 12h). Bare head of Prince Leonard left; grain ear to left and right / Red robin standing left on rock. Edge: Reeded. KM (X) 8. Gem Proof. Quite deeply toned, with a cobalt nature on the obverse and more of an iridescent mix on the reverse. A difficult early issue from this popular and now defunct micronation, with a mintage of just 1,000 pieces. $165.

Occupying a prominent role within the fascinating topic of "micronations," the Hutt River Province was founded on 21 April 1970 by Leonard Casley, styled as Prince Leonard. Though claiming to be a sovereign state located 354 miles north of Perth in Western Australia, the "principality" was not recognized as such among the nations of the world. Within the world of numismatics, however, quite the opposite is the case, as the Hutt River Province was a prolific issuer of "unofficial" coinage, often featuring topics and themes that weren't otherwise encountered in coins. After "ruling" for 45 years, Prince Leonard abdicated at the age of 91 in favor of his son, Prince Graeme, in 2017; Prince Leonard died just two years later on 13 February 2019. The younger's reign, however, was short-lived, as a massive tax debt had been levied against the principality in the amount of $3 million. On 3 August 2020, the micronation officially ended, bringing an end to one of the most celebrated areas of odd and quirky numismatics.

Gotta love the zany world of micronations. -Editor

101437 | FRANCE. Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique Art Deco bronze Medal. Issued 1931. Commemorating the maiden voyage of the Atlantique service line (68mm, 148.87 g, 12h). By L. Bazor in Paris. Venus, holding trident, in facing marine quadriga pulled by four sea horses / COMPAGNIE DE NAVIGATION SUD–ATLANTIQUE, perspective view from the right of the vessel breaking waves left; L'ATLANTIQUE / 1931 in exergue. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE. Choice Mint State. Slightly matte brown-bronze surfaces An exceptional Art Deco design by an ever-popular medalist. Rare, especially this attractive. $375.

The grandest and most luxurious passenger ship on the Europe–South America line, the Atlantique herself was in operation for little over two years, with her maiden voyage occurring in September/October 1930, and her demise—caused by a fire while in the English Channel—happening in January 1933. The Art Deco motif of this medal conveys the nature of the ship's interior design, which was heavily influenced by the style.

Great medal. Love Art Deco! -Editor

101449 | GREAT BRITAIN. Supermalt Extract & "Celt" Yeast Bread engraved silver Award Medal. Engraved 1893 and awarded to Mr. J. Measures in November (36mm, 19.83 g, 12h). AGRICULTURAL HALL LONDON / 1893, baker standing left, kneading dough in kitchen and baking bread / 'AWARDED / TO / MR J MEASURES / BY THE / MANCHESTER CHEMICAL CO / FOR BREAD MADE WITH / SUPERMALT EXTRACT & "CELT" YEAST / EXHIBITED AT / THE BAKERS EXHIBITION / HELD IN / THE AGRICULTURAL HALL / NOV 4TH TO 11TH 1893' in twelve lines in a variety of fonts. Edge: Encased in bezel, with swiveled crown suspension, loop, and ring at the top. Choice Extremely Fine overall. Some light cleaning. $465.

While most award medals for events such as these are struck, this engaging piece instead is quite elegantly engraved, with great intricacy given to the scene on the obverse as well as the ornate nature of the lettering throughout.

Quite unusual - I can't say I've ever seen another medal for Supermalt Extract, but I imagine a small collection could be made of medals and tokens relating to the making and sale of bread. -Editor

101433 | SWEDEN. Göteborg Numismatic Association bronze Medal Issued 1973. Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the association (56mm, 90.84 g, 12h). By G. Svensson-Lundkvist. Oversized klippe issue in high relief surrounded by numerous other coins in stacks; issues represented include Greek and Roman ancients, some medieval hammered, and modern machine struck coinage / GÖTEBORGS NUMISMATISKA FÖRENING 1943–1973, two ships approaching the docks; seagulls flying in the foreground above two fish; various modern Swedish coins around to left. Edge: MV BRONS 1973. Gem Mint State. Chocolate brown surfaces with incredible relief and detail. $145.

Featuring a wide variety of coinage from ancient to modern, this ambitious design presents great detail and allows the most advanced numismatist a chance to determine as many discernable types as possible.

Agreed - a very busy design that presents a fun challenge for the viewer. -Editor

100368 | UNITED STATES. Hillary Rodham Clinton bronze Medal. Issued 2016. Proposed Inaugural Design (70mm, 161.81 g, 12h). By P. Hansen at the Medalcraft mint. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, bust left / Upward view of the Statue of Liberty facing slightly left. Edge: Plain. Gem Mint State. Flawless yellow-bronze surfaces. Extremely rare. Includes original purple box of issue along with stand. $975.

The tradition of presidential inaugural medals is long-standing, with the process generally beginning before the election itself has taken place, thus allowing proposed designs to be created and critiqued so that an acceptable rendition is ready by the time of the inauguration. As such, the prototypes of the defeated candidates exist in obviously small quantities, and occupy an extremely interesting place in the arena of 'what if?' Adding further inauspiciousness to this piece is the empty nature to the reverse field—intentionally left blank by the artist in order to allow the Clinton camp a chance to offer input, it can now be viewed as a surprisingly stalled design for a surprisingly stalled campaign.

These "almost" Inaugural medals are a great companion to the actual ones, and as noted, are usually quite more rare. Nice, albeit incomplete medal. -Editor