NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: MAY 7, 2023

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 19, May 7, 2023, Article 21

Jeremy Bostwick at Numismagram forwarded these three medals and a token from his most recent addition of new material at his website. For all of the new additions, please visit https://www.numismagram.com/inventory. -Editor

102405 | UNITED STATES. Lincoln/Grant/McKinley gilt copper Medal. Issued 1900 for the Republican convention (44mm, 25.38 g, 6h). LINCOLN GRANT McKINLEY, jugate busts left of Lincoln, Grant, and McKinley / PHILADELPHIA / NATIONAL / REPUBLICAN / CONVENTION / JUNE 19th 1900 in five lines; scrolled border with each Republican presidential nominee since the party's founding in 1856 (Frémont) through its most recent in 1896 (McKinley); the noted inverted doubling gives an enticing and most unusual ghosting effect. Edge: Plain. King 446. Choice Mint State. Extremely brilliant and vibrant, with evidence of nearly 180º double striking on the reverse. A very rare offering in gilt, and even that much more so in such an elevated state of preservation and with such a dramatic striking error upon the reverse. $865.

The 1900 presidential election saw a re-match of 1896, with the Republican William McKinley pitted against the Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Before the general election, however, was the Republican Party nominating convention, which was held in Philadelphia in June. McKinley, the sitting president, was renominated by acclamation, with New York's governor, Theodore Roosevelt, nominated as his vice president. This medal, celebrating the re-nominated McKinley, features his bust along with two other previous stars of the Republican party—Abraham Lincoln, the party's first winner (and two-time winner, at that) of the presidency, and Ulysses S. Grant, the party's first candidate to serve a full two terms, as Lincoln was assassinated very early in his second term. In a twist of fate, McKinley would also win a second term later in 1900, but, like Lincoln, would also fall to an assassin's bullet early in that second term, being succeeded by Roosevelt.

102374 | GERMANY & EUROPE. The Russian Ambassador receives the Serbian Assassin cast bronze Medal. Dated 1914. "Serajewo/Der Funke des Weltbrandes"—on the spark of the global conflagration (57mm, 57.08 g, 12h). By K. Goetz in München. DER RVSS GESANDTE VON HARTWIG EMPFÄNGT SERB MÖRDER, Russian ambassador Hartwig standing left, receiving Serbian assassins and presenting them with a bag of money / DER FVNKE DES WELT-BRANDES, assassin advancing on a road to Sarajevo, holding bomb behind back. Edge: Plain. Kienast 132; Klose 1.1; Art of Devastation p. 81, fig. 5. Choice Mint State. Deep brown surfaces, with a slightly matte nature. An important and scarce issue recounting the events leading up to what would cause the first of the two great world wars. $595.

Starting merely as a local issue between Austrian-dominated Serbia and the Russian Empire (who wished to have greater influence in the Balkans), World War I escalated upon the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian crown prince, Franz Ferdinand, along with his wife Sophie in the streets of Sarajevo in 1914. Conducted by Serbians who were members of the Black Hand, this caused Austria to punish Serbia, with Russia then coming to the aid of Serbia. In turn, Germany's decades-old alliance with Austria brought her into the conflict against Russia, with France and Great Britain (owing to their own alliance with Russia) in against Germany and Austria. Through numerous alliances, this Balkan issue quickly spiraled into the largest conflict then seen by the world.

102431 | FRANCE. Marseille. Savon "Le Chat" aluminum Advertising Token of "20 Units." Issued circa 1925 (42mm, 9.87 g, 10h). SAVON LE CHAT / C FERRIER MARSEILLE, facing head of cat within circular and octagonal border / Ste DU JETON PRIME PARIS 1910-1925 / 20 UNITÉS, diademed bust of Cyrnos left. Edge: Some marks as made, otherwise plain. Mint State. Slate gray surfaces with enchanting brilliance and a slight pullaway nature to the color. A fairly scarce and interesting advertising jeton from post-WWI France. $145.

Ferrier was a soap maker who founded his company in Marseille in 1853, with his "Le Chat" brand being a popular detergent for washing clothes. By the turn of the century, the company started producing smaller bars of soap intended for personal hygiene. In 1909, they added a washing powder to their line of products. The company is still in operation today, popular for its manufacturing of a natural, biodegradable formula for cleaning hands.

This token served as an advertising piece for the company, with the added benefit of being used as a form of money during the economic instability in the middle-war years.

102379 | GERMANY. Heidelberg. Dog Lovers' Association gilt bronze Award Medal. Issued circa 1930 (45mm, 32.79 g, 12h). VEREIN DER HUNDEFREUNDE FÜR HEIDELBERG UND UMGEGEND E. V. within collar, head of dog right with oak and laurel wreath / EHRENPREIS within garlanded laurel wreath. Edge: Plain. Mint State. Charming yellow surfaces. Includes box of issue. $195.