NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: OCTOBER 8, 2023

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 41, October 8, 2023, Article 20

Jeremy Bostwick at Numismagram passed along these four tokens and medals from his most recent upload of new material to his site. For all of the new items, please visit https://www.numismagram.com/inventory. -Editor

102353 | FRANCE. Lodge of Saint Germain silver Jeton. Issued 1787 (23mm, 3.74 g, 6h). JETTON DE ST. GERMAIN, compass, square, and acacia sprays // CURAT PAUPERES ([He] looks out for the poor), radiant Eye of Providence. Edge: Reeded. Labouret 448. PCGS MS-62. Lightly toned, with great brilliance; a minor planchet flaw near the edge of the reverse is noted for completeness. Fairly rare and interesting. $645.

Contemporaneous to the "first coins" of the United States, the Nova Constellatio coppers of 1783, this silver masonic issue from the Lodge of Saint Germain in France was struck just four years later, possibly inspired by the "all-seeing eye" iconography as seen on the Nova Constellatio coppers.

102555 | GERMANY. Paul Ehrlich bronze Medal. Issued 1910. Commemorating the 56th birthday of the Nobel Prize recipient and breakthrough researcher on the treatment of syphilis (59mm, 74.13 g, 12h). By K. Goetz. PAVL • EHRLICH • ÆTATIS • ANNO • LVI • MCMX, bust right in frock coat // Nude Asclepius standing left, holding staff and feeding serpent from patera; CORPORA / NON / AGVNT - NISI FIXATA (Ehrlich's maxim: a drug will not work unless it is bound) across field. Edge: Plain. Kienast 43. Choice Mint State. Tan-brown surfaces, with some darker hues around the devices and an alluring matte nature. $495.

Paul Ehrlich was an important German physician and scientist who contributed greatly to the field of immunology. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in 1908 for the standardization of manufacturing anti-diphtheria serum, he actually garnered even more fame through a discovery with fellow researcher, Sahachiro Hata from Japan. This breakthrough involved arsphenamine (also known as Salvarsan or compound 606) and was the first effective treatment for syphilis. This incredibly important treatment further led to Ehrlich's concept of the "magic bullet" (i.e., the idea that it would be possible to kill a bacteria or disease within one's body by using a targeted treatment without harming the body itself), and also served as the foundation to the concept of chemotherapy. The contributions of Ehrlich and Sata cannot be understated, especially when considering the importance of public health and the medical researchers tasked with maintaining it.

102490 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. Edward VI silver faux-engraved Jeton or Gaming Counter. Issued circa 1720, or slightly later. Series 5: Sovereigns of England: Half length (25mm, 2.11 g, 12h). By the school of Simon van der Passe. EDWARD THE VI, capped, crowned, and ermine-mantled bust facing slightly left, wearing ruffled collar and holding sword and orb; portcullis to right // Crowned coat-of-arms with Garter collar; all within elaborate border. Cf. Mitchener p. 1675, 23. Choice About Uncirculated. Very lightly toned, with excellent intricate artistry. A fairly rare later type from a popular series. $395.

Gambling and games of chance have served as a form of entertainment and excitement during much of recorded history in one way or another, and many of these games necessitate some form of accounting during play. In early modern Europe, jetons were commonly employed for these purposes and allowed for skilled engravers to promote their artistry. One such engraver was Simon van der Passe, born in Utrecht circa 1585.

Van der Passe worked in England from 1616–1621/2, having founded a school after being exempted from the royal monopoly given previously to Nicholas Hilliard. This exemption allowed for the "graving and imprinting medailles" and small portraits of the king, and van der Passe utilized his technique for the production of numerous series of jetons or gaming counters, initially employing portraits of the Stuarts, James I and later Charles I with his wife, Henrietta Maria. Though Simon would return to Holland in 1621/2, his London-based school continued under the management of his brother, William. Subsequent issues of these jetons would feature Gustav Adolph and his wife, Maria Eleonora, the sovereigns of England, 'classical portraits' of historical and biblical figures, 'street cries,' and the Commonwealth.

Of even greater interest and debate among numismatists over the past century has been the method of manufacture of these jetons. Their appearance at first glance would lead one to believe that they have been individually engraved owing to their incuse design. It is thought that, in fact, these ornate counters were skillfully cast (or struck) and polished through the niello process in order to generate this 'faux-engraved' effect.

101822 | UNITED STATES. F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company bronze Medal. Issued 1942 for the 100th anniversary of the brewery (31mm, 12.31 g, 12h). By R. P. Chambellan. OUR HAND HAS NEVER LOST ITS SKILL, hand upward, holding chalice of beer; in background to left, company's original headquarters in 1842; in background to right, company's then headquarters in 1942 // TO / COMMEMORATE / OUR 100TH YEAR / THE F. & M. SCHAEFER / BREWING CO. / AMERICA'S OLDEST LAGER BEER in six lines within wreath composed of hop cones and ears of barley. Edge: Plain. MACO 1941-046-001. Choice About Uncirculated. Olive-brown surfaces, with some lighter brown color in spots. $165.

Founded in 1842 by German-born brothers Friedrich and Maximilian, the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company began operation in New York City, specializing in lager beer produced by the German tradition. By 1871, the company had risen to number six among American brewers, and continued to remain a strong, popular producer into the 20th century. In the 1960s and '70s, it furthered its holdings by acquiring several regional breweries. Schaefer, however, was itself acquired in 1981 by Stroh Brewing Company, which, in turn, was acquired by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999.