NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: DECEMBER 22, 2024

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 51, December 22, 2024, Article 18

Numismagram's Jeremy Bostwick sent along these four medals from his upload of new medallic art to his site. For all of the new items, please visit https://www.numismagram.com/inventory. -Editor

102996 | ITALY. Papal States. Pope Pius VII bronze Medal. Issued 1807 for the renovation of the outer wall of the Colosseum in 1806 (68mm, 144.61 g, 12h). By Tommaso Mercandetti at the Rome mint. PIVS SEPTIMVS PONTIFEX MAX, bust left, wearing zucchetto, mantum, and ornate pallium // AMPHIT FLAVIVM REPARATVM, façade of the repaired outer wall of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre); in three lines in exergue, ANNO A NATIVITATE / CHRISTI / CI?I?CCCVI [MDCCCVI]. Edge: Some light marks as made, otherwise plain. Patrignani 45; Bartolotti 78; Weber 232; Bertuzzi 76. Choice Mint State. Deep chocolate brown surfaces, with great depth among the devices and brilliance in the fields. An exceptional architectural type, and one that remains free from the commonly encountered scuffing and bruising that most exhibit. Characteristic die break on the reverse, though still from an earlier state than most. $1,095.

Construction on the Colosseum was begun in the early portion of the reign of Roman emperor Vespasian, with the iconic edifice completed during the reign of his elder son and successor, Titus. Given their importance in its creation, it later gained the name of the Flavian Amphitheatre in honor of their dynastic family. Some estimates point to its capacity being some 80,000 spectators, with crowds likely routinely averaging more than 60,000. While it fell into disrepair during the ensuing centuries, efforts were made to renovate the outer wall during the reign of Pius VII—the event commemorated on this highly impressive architectural medal that predates many of the other Italian, Belgian, and British architectural medals that would come to life in the mid-19th century.

102912 | SWEDEN. Oscar II silver Award Medal. Issued circa 1875-1880. Presented for Horse Breeding (43mm, 33.90 g, 12h). By Lea Ahlborn at the Stockholm mint. OSCAR II SVERIGES OCH NORGES KONUNG, bare head right // FÖR HÄSTAFVELNS FRÄMJANDE (for horse breeding), horse standing left; PRISBELÖNING (award). Edge: Plain. Choice Mint State. Rich brown surfaces, with intense lustrous brilliance in the fields. $109.

Awarded annually by the Stuteri Öfverstyrelsen (stud farm executive board), these medals were a continuation of the ideals originally promoted in the 17th century in order to foster a strong supply of horses for the Swedish cavalry. Enacted by decree in 1872, and officially instituted by 1875, these hästmedaljer ("horse medals") were presented, in silver and bronze, to the owners of deceased young horses that were considered by the board to be worthy of such honor and distinction.

102925 | SWITZERLAND. Frauenfeld. Silver Shooting Medal. Issued 1890. Commemorating the federal shooting festival in Frauenfeld in Thurgau, from 20–30 July (45mm, 38.70 g, 12h). By Hughes Bovy in Geneva. HEIL DIR HELVETIA, personification of Helvetia standing left, head right, holding a sword and shield; Frauenfeld Castle in the background to the left; to right, personification of Thurgau seated left, resting hand upon a garnished cantonal coat-of-arms // EIDGENÖSSISCHES SCHÜTZENFEST IN FRAUENFELD / JULI 1890, civic coat-of-arms over laurel and oak branches, and rifles crossed in saltire. Richter 1250b. NGC MS-61 Prooflike. Highly brilliant and reflective, with some subtle iridescence sprinkled throughout. Somewhat conservatively assessed given its charming eye appeal. $435.

The shooting festivals—in this sense, at the federal level—are considered one of the most important events in Swiss life, having played a historic role in the establishment of the Swiss state and serving as a vital connection to the nation's past. The first federal shooting festival was held in Aarau in 1824, and subsequent festivals were then held every few years, with numerous cities rotating as host. Since 1985, these festivals have been held at a fixed point every five years, the most recent having been held in July 2021 in Luzern (originally scheduled for 2020, but delayed due to the global pandemic).

102803 | ARGENTINA & CHILE. Peace Treaty silver Medal. Issued 1911/2 for the end of the border dispute (58mm, 70.50 g, 12h). INDE PAX UTRIUSQUE PONTI, two battle cruisers (San Martin [Argentina]) and O'Higgins [Chile]) sailing side-by-side; garlanded olive wreath below // PACTIONES ARGENTINO–CHILENSES / 28 MAII MCMII, view of the Andes, with rainbow arcing overtop; POST PACTA, FŒDERA... in exergue. Edge: Plain. Royal Museums Greenwich Coll. MEC2626. PCGS MS-62. Mostly a pale gray-argent, with some hints of iridescence nearer the peripheries, and pattern of color that parallel the rainbow for added effect. A fairly scarce Latin American type with great iconography. $395.

Given their extensive border, Argentina and Chile have experienced their fair share of territorial disputes, as their lengthy neighboring lands run for over 3,300 miles. Following a heated escalation in 1902, King Edward VII of Great Britain intervened, quelling the tensions in an equitable manner. The presidents of the two countries were on board their respective ships (the San Martin and the O'Higgins) and met in the Straits of Magellan.