DECEMBER 2018 MEDAL SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMAGRAM

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 49, December 9, 2018, Article 24

Jeremy Bostwick at Numismagram passed along a few highlights from his recent upload of new material to his website. In addition to the items below, look for some attractive WWI-related pieces, an offering of shooting medals, a cool French piece for any racing enthusiast, and many other attractive European art medals. -Editor

UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Colonial America and Preußen (Prussia) silver Medal. Dated 1763. Commemorating the Treaty of Hubertusburg and the end of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in America) (44mm, 21.76 g, 12h). By J. L. Oexlein. IAM REDIRE AVDET (now she dares to return...), Germania standing facing, head right, holding scepter and grain ear; mountains and plowman in background; in two lines in exergue, GERMANIA / PACATA (...with Germany being at peace) / NVNCIA PACIS (the messenger of Peace), view of the Hubertusburg palace; above, Fama (Rumor) flying right, blowing in one trumpet and holding another; D 15 FEBR MDCCLXIII in exergue. Edge: Plain, with a few light marks. Betts 446; Pax in Nummis 595; Olding 931; Henckel 1658. Choice About Uncirculated. Attractive cabinet tone, with a delightful mélange of cobalt and burgundy; tremendous underlying luster. $435

UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Colonial America and Preußen (Prussia) silver Medal. Dated 1763. Commemorating the Treaty of Hubertusburg and the end of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in America) (22mm, 2.72 g, 12h). By D. F. Loos. IAM REDIRE AVDET (now she dares to return...), Germania standing facing, head right, holding scepter and grain ear; above, zodiacal banner with Leo and Virgo; mountains and plowman in background; in two lines in exergue, GERMANIA / PACATA (...with Germany being at peace) / NVNCIA PACIS (the messenger of Peace), view of the Hubertusburg palace; above, Fama (Rumor) flying right, blowing in one trumpet and holding another; D 15 FEBR MDCCLXIII in exergue. Edge: Plain.

Betts 447; Pax in Nummis 596; Olding 930; Henckel 1659. Choice About Uncirculated. Attractive cabinet tone, with some hues of burnt sienna around the devices; majestically lustrous. Compare to the Ford specimen, which realized a hammer of $400 in December 2008 (Stack's [Coin Galleries], lot 1629). $435

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.

These two medals, displaying similar designs yet different modules, were included by C. Wyllys Betts in American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals due to their relation to the French and Indian War conflict in colonial America.

Great pair of Betts medals. -Editor

EGYPT & FRANCE. Fuad I bronze Medal. Dated 1926. Commemorating the 14th International Congress of Navigation (72mm, 125.71 g, 12h). By S. E. Vernier in Paris.

Uniformed bust right, wearing fez; Arabic legend around / Vignette containing central lighthouse; steamship to left, small sail boats to right; text below. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE.

Cf. Goldberg 78, lot 2994 (which realized a hammer of $1,350 in 2014); cf. Album 24, lot 2225 (which realized a hammer of $1,600 in 2016). Choice Mint State. Sublime yellow-bronze matte surfaces. $1,495

Struck for the Congress of Navigation held in Cairo, this attractive art medal features some of the more iconic features which would have been seen in the Mediterranean: a steam ship, two feluccas, and a lighthouse–an allusion to the famous Pharos of Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).

Nice portrait -Editor

GERMANY. Albrecht Dürer silver Medal. Dated 1928. Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the Artist's Birth (36mm, 24.97 g, 12h). By J. Bernhart.

ALBRECHT DÜRER–IAHR NÜRNBERG, facing bust, holding tablet and stylis / EHRT EVRE / DEVTSCHEN / MEISTER!, two coats-of-arms set upon platform. Edge: PREUSS. STAATSMÜNZE•SILBER 900 FEIN. Erlanger 994; Erlanger Collection 1553; Mende 126. Gem Proof. Beaming luster, with dazzlingly toned surfaces exhibiting a rich palette of cobalt, sea foam green, and burnt sienna. $165

A prolific painter, printmaker, and humanist during the German Renaissance, Albrecht Dürer garnered quite the reputation while still in his 20's, communicating with many of the leading artists of his time while receiving the patronage of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. One of his most famous works, his Self-Portrait at Twenty Eight, is notable for its allusion to earlier versions of the Christ Pantocrator icon, and is similarly rendered on the obverse of this commemorative medal.

Nice medal - great toning. -Editor