NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: OCTOBER 2022

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V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 41, October 9, 2022, Article 22

Jeremy Bostwick of Numismagram forwarded these three medals that were a part of his recent upload of new material. Some of the other highlights include a medal relating to the execution of Louis XVI, a plaque pertaining to the International Health Exhibition held in Dresden in 1911, and a silver medal commemorating the Apollo 11 lunar mission. For all of these new additions, please visit https://www.numismagram.com/inventory. -Editor

102167 | GERMANY. New Century silver Medal. Issued 1900 (38mm, 28.48 g, 12h). By C. Starck & O. Oertel in Berlin. Facing sphinx / ZUR / JAHR- / HUN- / DERTS – WENDE, Hora, in sheer, full-length drapery, standing slightly left, extinguishing one torch and holding another upright. Edge: 990. Strothotte 1900-3; Marienburg 7159; Heidemann 855; GPH 5082. Choice Mint State. Pleasingly toned. $245.

Offering great Neoclassical artistry, this piece was created for the dawn of the 20th century, seemingly featuring a mythological allegory for the passage of time, Hora. Here, she is depicted in a very sheer drapery, her apparent nakedness revealing the exploits of the previous century, yet her clothing at least obfuscating the events of the new century.

102096 | GERMANY & GREAT BRITAIN. Sir Edward Grey cast iron Medal. Issued circa 1915/6. On Grey's "obligation of honour" to France and Belgium (56mm, 52.84 g, 12h). By E. Otto for Gladenbeck & Son in Berlin. DATVM EST EI OS LOQVENS MAGNA ET BLASPHEMIAS (it was given a mouth from which to speak haughty and blasphemous words...), three-headed winged mythical beast rearing left; in two lines in exergue, QVIS SIMILIS / BESTIÆ (...who is this that acts so beastly? [—adapted from Revelation 13:5]) / SIR EDWARD GREY above a quill. Edge: DS 66 6. Klose –; Art of Devastation – (though cf. 7513.15202.1.a in the Society's collection); Steguweit 143. Mint State. Graphite gray surfaces, with a light matte nature. A very rare and interesting type from a lesser-seen World War I satirical series. $295.

Sir Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon, served as British Foreign Secretary from 1905-1916, convincing the cabinet that a declaration of war against Germany was necessary as an "obligation of honour" to an alliance with France and a previous pledge that Belgium would not be invaded. Here, Otto presents Grey's Britain, along with France and Belgium, as a three-headed monster against his native Germany. He also draws inspiration from the Book of Revelation with the obverse legend, as well as a fairly close mimicking of an extremely rare 1687 Dutch medal on Pierre Jurieu, a 17th century leader in the French Protestant movement: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_G3-FD-99

102149 | GREAT BRITAIN. Gresham Angling Society silver Award Medal. Issued 1893 for specimen fish (39mm, 21.54 g, 12h). Engraved and awarded to E. Hesse of Chisenhale Road, Old Ford. Grasshopper left above ribbon reading GRESHAM ANGLING SOCIETY; around, border with fish, basket, hooks, nets, and tackle / PRIZE FOR SPECIMEN FISH, engraved in three lines in center, "E. HESSE / Dace / 1893"; garlanded wreath below. Edge: Plain. Choice Mint State. Deeply toned, with an intense ring of iridescence and shimmering brilliance in the fields. Incredibly attractive and alluring. $395.

Hesse appears to have won this medal for the exhibition of a dace, a type of freshwater fish in the minnow family. An advertisement in the 1893 publication "Red Palmer: A Practical Treatise on Fly-Fishing" by James Tayler conveys Hesse's accolades, in that:

E. Hesse,
of the Gresham Angling Society,
Animal, Bird & Fish Preserver,
59, Chisenhale Road, Old Ford,
Near the "Earl of Aberdeen," Reiman Road.
Specialist in Fish Mounting.
Inventor of the New "Natural" Eye, (for Fish)
First Class Exhibition Medal.
Price List on Application.

Based upon this ad, it would appear that Hesse was an accomplished taxidermist who perfected a fake eye to be used in the mounting of fish for display, likely using this award medal in his adverts.