The image of a hero in combat with a hydra is one of the most common of German or Austro-Hungarian images in First World War medallic art.

I attach an image from my collection of one of the finest - artistically speaking - by a Swiss artist working in Hungary, Richard Adolf Zutt. It’s not an exceptionally rare piece and bronze examples (as opposed to silver) can usually be picked up relatively cheaply.

I also suggest anyone interested in the subject examine a copy of a book reviewed in your pages some months ago: Klose, Dietrich O. A. Europas Verderben 1914 1918: Deutsche und österreichische Medaillen auf den Ersten Weltkrieg. 2016. This book contains a number of excellent examples illustrated in color.

The medal for the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen issued by the (losing) Danes shows a soldier battling a hydra-like creature.