NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: OCTOBER 4, 2026

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 40, 2026, Article 18

Numismagram's Jeremy Bostwick sent along 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. -Garrett

103634 | SWEDEN, DENMARK & GERMANY. Treaty of Travendal silver Medal. Issued 1700 for the peace treaty that returned Holstein-Gottorp to its duke (37mm, 18.18 g, 12h). Likely by Johann Reinhard Engelhardt in Breslau.

ORIENTES DISSIPAT UMBRAS (while rising, it breaks through the clouds), radiant sun [the sun as a symbol for Karl XII of Sweden] above clouds from which rain descends upon a view of the globe focused upon Northern Europe // SEPTEM IVNGIS TRINVNE TRIONES (Thou, oh Triune Lord, unitest the Northern Constellations), in center, radiant ???? (tetragrammaton); to right, the constellation of Ursa Major, represented by a large bear, moving upward; to left, the constellation of Ursa Minor, represented by a small bear, moving downward; both figures show the various stars of the two constellations in their proper places; in two lines in exergue, PAX SEPTENT / CI?I?CC (the Northern Peace of 1700). Edge: + PAX, PAX, TIBI ET PAX ADIVTORIBVS TVIS. I. PARAL. 13 v. 18 (peace, peace be unto you, and peace unto your helpers, –adapted from I Chronicles 12:18).

Pax in Nummis 396; Hildebrand I, p. 498, 36; Delzanno 52; Erbstein 4393; van Loon IV, p. 306; "Stars and Constellations on Coins" in AJN (Oct. 1892), p. 31, 4. Choice Very Fine. More darkly toned nearer the edges, with some scattered marks noted throughout; typical die flaw near 9h on the obverse. A rare and engaging type featuring two constellations.

Signed in Travdendal in the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp in 1700, the peace established there returned the realm to its rightful duke, Friedrich IV, who was an ally of Karl XII, the king of Sweden. Holstein-Gottorp lies at the base and lower tier of the Jutland Peninsula, and was besieged by the Danes in early 1700. Given alliances through marriage, Sweden was an ally of Holstein-Gottorp, and was able to negotiate a peace and a return of the duchy to its duke. Sweden's attention then turned to Russia, with whom she would battle for naval supremacy, ultimately unsuccessfully, over the next two decades. Interestingly, while Sweden and Holstein-Gottorp were allied at this time, it is that very duchy that would produce a future Russian emperor in the form of Pyotr (Peter) III (born Karl Peter Ulrich von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, a grandson to the aforementioned a Friedrich IV).

103713 | UNITED STATES & NETHERLANDS. Colonial America and Holland silver Medal. Issued 1764. The Treaty of Hubertusburg and the end of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in America) and the beginning of 1764 (44mm, 12h). By Martin Holtzhey.

MAGNAS INTER OPES INOPS (poor though among great riches, —adapted from Horace), a seminude and astonished Mercury facing, head left, as Peace approaches among the clouds from behind and grabs at his petasos (winged hat); in background to left, the boisterous winds of war blow away profits, with bills of exchange, or even currency itself, being scattered about; unloaded merchandise and bales of goods to right // NON CESSIT MALIS SED CONTRA AUDENTIOR IBIT (he did not yield to misfortunes, but will go more boldly against them), togate male figure standing facing slightly left, holding radiant caduceus and leaning upon altar to right; in background, marine view with rising sun and numerous ships under sail, one of which flies the banner of the city of Amsterdam, while another that of the city of Hamburg; in two lines in exergue, INITIO ANNI / MDCCLXIV.

Pax in Nummis 611; van Loon supp. pl. XXXIV, 370; Fieweger 828; Betts –; Strothotte 1764-1; Julius 2487. NGC MS-62. Highly lustrous and deeply toned, with intense areas of cobalt across both sides. An intriguing satirical issue that serves as a great companion to Oexlein's medal from the previous year (Betts 446 & 447). Despite this type not being listed in Betts, it celebrates the treaty that ended the conflict which, in the American Colonies, was known as the French & Indian War. Here, this medal alludes to the great losses suffered by the commerce of Amsterdam and Hamburg—negative effects of the war—and to the fact that the foresight, humanity, and prudence of the magistrates of both cities saved them from even greater disaster.

Sometimes referred to as 'World War Zero,' given its scale overall number of belligerent powers, the Seven Years' War began primarily with Austria's desire to recover Silesia from the Kingdom of Prussia. Since Great Britain had been aiming to increase her colonial possessions in the New World at the expense of France, the strife in the American theater began to merge with that in Europe, resulting in a legitimate global conflict, with every major European power taking the side of either Great Britain/Prussia or France/Austria. In addition to North America and Europe, skirmishes also played out in Central America, the western coast of Africa, India, and the Philippines. Ultimately, a peace was achieved through the Treaty of Paris, formally ending all conflicts save for the Silesian question; the Treaty of Hubertusburg, signed five days later, ended the issue between Prussia and Austria, formally ending the war.

103706 | GERMANY. Richard Wagner & Franz Liszt bronze Medal. Issued 1928 on the occasion of the Marian Days at the Wartburg (65mm, 93.82 g, 12h). By Karl Goetz at the München mint.

1811–1886 • 1813–1883, busts of Liszt and Wagner facing one another; in two lines in exergue, RICHARD WAGNER / FRANZ LISZT // WARTBVRG MAIENTAGE, minstrel, in medieval attire and resting hands upon harp, and St. Elisabeth standing in front of Wartburg Castle at a distance; 1928 to left, coat-of-arms to right. Edge: BAYER HAUPMÜNZAMT.

Kienast 404; Niggl 1119a. Gem Mint State. Olive-brown surfaces, with a pleasing matte nature. A great type that crosses two popular areas: Goetz medals and musica in nummis.

The minstrel with a harp refers to the opera "Tannhäuser" by Richard Wagner, which takes place at Wartburg Castle, while St. Elisabeth, with her coat-of-arms, refers to the sacred oratorio "Die Legende von der heilige Elisabeth" by Franz Liszt, which is connected to the castle.

103578 | ITALY, FINLAND & SWEDEN. Leonardo da Vinci three-piece bronze Medal. Issued 1974 for the 455th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance polymath (59mm, 338.7 g, 12h). By Kauko Räsänen for Sporrong in Norrtälje.

Top piece, obverse: LEONARDO DA VINCI, fourfold face of an older da Vinci, borrowed from a self-portrait, with movement from left to right showing an increasingly open mouth and angrily widening and narrowing of the eyes // Top piece, reverse: The position of man in the cosmos: incuse square, astronaut standing facing, with face partially hidden and with arms outstretched in the style of da Vinci's Vitruvian Man; to left, small sphere containing smaller figure with arms similarly outstretched. /// Middle piece, obverse: Raised square, with da Vinci gazing to right, showing increasingly smaller reflections as one moves inward—a symbol of his enduring legacy // Middle piece, reverse: Raised square, with da Vinci's architectural designs and inventions: glider spiral (helicopter), parachute, repeating cannon (machine gun), armored car, waterwheel, submarine, diving suit, etc., with his birth year (1452) and death year (1519) in field to left and right, respectively. /// Bottom piece, obverse: Horse galloping left, with nude male rider looking right—a paraphrase of the equestrian monument planned and sketched by da Vinci for Duke Francesco Sforza // Bottom piece, reverse: Incuse square featuring facing female head modeled after the Mona Lisa, with her skull superimposed to and facing left—a symbol of the transience of life. Edge: 0736•5000 / SPORRONG.

Hackl & Klose 63. As Made. Deep brown surfaces, with some lighter hues in the recesses. An extraordinary work of modern medallic art in triplicate. The very definition of a Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci excelled in seemingly all aspects, with this complex, three-part medal by Räsänen capturing many of those important areas.

THE BOOK BAZARRE

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