NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: FEBRUARY 4, 2024

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 5, February 4, 2024, Article 18

Jeremy Bostwick with Numismagram forwarded these four 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

102639 | FRANCE. Paris. International Expo bronze Award Medal. Issued 1900 as the official prize [awarded to F. Zerhau] (63mm, 101.66 g, 12h). By J.-C. Chaplain at the Paris mint. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, bust of Marianne right, wearing oak wreath; oak tree to left; cityscape of Paris in background to right // EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE, Victory flying left, head upturned right, holding wreath and palm frond, and bearing victor, holding torch, upon her back; view of the expo hall in background; in exergue, cartouche with F. ZERHAU. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE. Button 29; Wurzbach 7193. Choice Mint State. Olive-brown surfaces. $295.

Visited by more than 50 million visitors, the 1900 Paris World's Fair, styled in French as the Exposition Universelle, ran from 14 April to 12 November, occurring in conjunction with the games of the II Olympiad—also held in Paris. The theme of the expo was a celebration of the century that was and the century that would be. Some of the technological advancements that were exhibited included the diesel engine, electric cars, talking films, and dry cell batteries, with Art Nouveau given a spotlight and being introduced to the world.

102697 | JAPAN & RUSSIA. Battle of Tsushima bronze Medal. Issued Meiji 38 (1905). Commemorating the final naval battle of the Russo-Japanese War (55mm, 78.69 g, 12h). Wreath and artillery shell before Japanese Army and Navy flags crossed in saltire; sakura blossoms around // Legend in four lines in Japanese (seal script) within circular maeander border; legend in Japanese (seal script) around; all within circular border of alternating anchors and stars. Edge: Plain. Cf. Smirnov 1343. Choice Mint State. Alluring brown surfaces, with a great glossy nature throughout; a powerful and rare piece. Includes original box of issue. Just the third time that we have had this impressive type, with the first being an even rarer version in silver pedigreed to the Virgil M. Brand Collection (which later sold in Stack's Bowers 2019 ANA auction [lot 21306], realizing a total of $5,280). Compare to similar examples in Westfälische Auktionsgesellschaft 46 (lot 2908) and 48 (lot 4169), which realized hammers of € 1,150 and € 750, respectively. $795.

Known in Japan as the Battle of the Sea of Japan, the Battle of Tsushima served as the final naval battle in the Russo-Japanese War, and was a clear Japanese victory. The battle has the distinction of being the only decisive engagement between modern steel battleship fleets, the last decisive naval battle in history, and the first in which the telegraph played an important role. The heavy losses suffered by Russia forced her to seek peace, with U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt instrumental in the a treaty later signed in Portsmouth, and for which he would later win the Nobel Peace Prize.

102690 | GERMANY, RUSSIA & LATVIA. Fall of Riga cast bronze Medal. Issued 1917 (56mm, 59.40 g, 11h). By K. Goetz in München. RIGA 1917, Russian bear lying on its back right, pierced by sword and wounded by the internal and external conflicts of 1914 through 1917, indicated on each limb // DER / FLÜGELSCHLAG / DER ZEIT (the wingbeat of the times), hourglass, indicating time has expired, held by scythe; chaotic revolutionary forces below. Edge: Plain. Kienast 195; Jones, Dance of Death, 39. Choice Mint State. Virtually as cast, with warm brown surfaces. A scarce and popular type. $795.

Owing to its strategic position on the Gulf of Riga, the gulf's namesake city was of vital interest to its controlling Russian forces as well as those of the German Empire, who looked at it as a way to control the Baltic scene. If Germany were able to seize Riga, troops stationed near there could be then redeployed to the western front and France, where Germany believed the war would ultimately be decided. The battle was fought over three days at the beginning of September in 1917, with Germany eventually being victorious and capturing Riga, though the Russian 12th Army was able to escape and retreat. Internally, Russia herself was in turmoil, with Czar Nicholai II and the Romanov ruling family overthrown in February of that year and, just two months after the fall of Riga, the Bolshevik Revolution ("October" Uprising) would occur, sparking Russia's eventually fall to the hands of the Soviets. As indicated by Goetz on this medal, the Russian bear was bearing the wounds of multiple years' worth of internal and external conflicts.

102658 | SWEDEN. Göteborg Tercentenary Anniversary Exhibition bronze Issued 1923. Commemorating the expo and the 300th anniversary of the city's founding (56mm, 75.96 g, 12h). By C. Milles for Sporrong & Co. JVBILEVMS VT STÄLLNINGEN GÖTEBORG, coat-of-arms of Göteborg (stylized lion rampant right, holding sword and shield; crown above) // Four gods (Minerva/Athena, Vulcan/Hephaistos, Mercury/Hermes, and Neptune/Poseidon advancing left, torsos and heads facing, and each holding attributes: book, gear, caduceus, and trident, respectively; in exergue, dolphin left. Edge: C C SPORRONG & Co. MKD 99 (type IIIa). Mintage: 1,800. Gem Mint State. Deep olive-brown surfaces. Great relief and texture. $195.

Known for figurative sculptures and large-scale fountains, Carl Milles was one of Sweden's most prominent artists. In addition to his other media, Milles also designed a number of medals capturing his sculpted, very modern style. On this medal, his distinctive style comes through clearly. Of note, the city of Göteborg recently celebrated its 400th anniversary last year.

Another great selection of interesting and important medals. Thank you! -Editor