NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: APRIL 20, 2025

PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE FULL ISSUE PREV FULL ISSUE

V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 16, 2025, Article 12

Numismagram's Jeremy Bostwick sent along these five 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

103046 | GERMANY. Silesia. Noah's Ark silver Medal. Issued circa 1736. On the desire for an end to famine (33mm, 7.31 g, 12h). By Johann Leonhard Oexlein in Nürnberg. BEFIEHL DEM HERRN DEINE WEGE (surrender yourself to the Lord...), Noah's Ark facing right upon the water; above, dove flying left, with olive branch in beak; in two lines in exergue, UND HOFFE / AUF IHN (...and place your hope in Him...) // ER WIRDS WOHL MACHEN (...for He will do it), seven worshipers on their knees in act of prayer; lighted altar between them; rainbow arcing across the sky above; representation of an ark (alluding to Noah's Ark atop Mt. Ararat) upon hill in background to right. Edge: Plain. F&S 4240; Erlanger 2751; GPH 1189. Almost Uncirculated Details. Darkly toned nearer the peripheries and around the devices, with a good deal of brilliance remaining, though some subtle graffiti is noted upon each side, and accounts for the designation. Nevertheless, a charming religious type, and one that is very rare in this larger format, essentially double the size of those which we have offered in the past. $365.

102825 | ITALY & BRITISH EAST INDIES. Pope Leo XIII silver Medal. Issued Year XVII (1894/5). On the founding of the Papal Seminary in British India at Kandy (43mm, 36.38 g, 12h). By Francesco Bianchi at the Rome mint. LEO XIII PONT MAX AN XVII, bust left, wearing zucchetto, mantum, and pallium // FILII TVI INDIA ADMINISTRI TIBI SALVTIS (your own sons, India, will be the heralds of your salvation), female personification of the Catholic Church seated right, holding cross and observing St. Francis Xavier (Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta), who instructs two natives; façade of the seminary in background; in two lines in exergue, XAVERIO • AVSPICE / ET • PATRONO. Edge: Plain. Bartolotti E894; Rinaldi 88. PCGS SP-62. Richly lustrous and vibrant, with some iridescence nearer the edges. An interesting papal issue with a strong East Asian connection. $395.

103069 | GERMANY & UNITED STATES. U-Boats in America cast bronze Medal. Dated 1916. "Ränkeschmiede bei der Arbeit"—on the media controversy surrounding the submarine war and the role of the Reuters news agency (57mm, 63.37 g, 12h). By Karl Goetz in München. RÆNKE–SCHMIEDE BEI DER ARBEIT (provocateurs at work), Frenchman and Brit each with an arm around Uncle Sam (with the features of US president Woodrow Wilson), pointing out a u-boat at a distance to right; American flag in foreground to right // DEUTSCHE U BOOTE IN AMERIKA 7 OKT 1916, telegraph pole surmounted by janiform head with caricatured, antisemitic features, and from which wires curl in stylized letter forms of "D" and "B" (for Deutsche Boote) and "Reuter Gezeter" (for the Reuter clamor). Edge: Plain. Kienast 185. Mint State. Olive-brown surfaces. A rarer type that captures the caricatured and sometimes quite demeaning aspect of those who draw the ire of Goetz. In this instance, the Jewish-founded Reuters new agency for which Goetz feels sensationalized the German u-boat. Compare to a similar example, graded NGC MS-64, which realized a total of $840 in Heritage's showcase auction 61366, lot 23122. $595.

103144 | GREAT BRITAIN & SWEDEN. "Save Our Earth Air Water" cast bronze Medal. Issued 1990 (96mm, 592.9 g, 12h). By Berndt Helleberg for the British Art Medal Society. Abstract male figure advancing left, chasing after another; rain pouring down; in two lines below, SAVE OUR / AIR EARTH WATER // Abstract image of sea life. Edge: Plain. Attwood 73 & p. 29; "The Medal"19 (Autumn 1991), p. 116. As Made. Deep brown surfaces, with an intensely tactile nature. An extremely rare and provocative issue, with an output of just 15 pieces. Ex David Nicholas Silich Collection, Part II. $645.

103127 | NETHERLANDS. "Vrouw in Raam" cast bronze Medal. Issued 1991. "Woman in the Window" (76mm, 388.4 g, 12h). By Fons Bemelmans for the Vereniging voor Penningkunst, and cast by the Bruining foundry in Haarlem. Bust of nude woman looking leftward out of open window; dove seated to her left // The same woman, seen from behind, while she looks out from the window. Edge: Plain. De Beeldenaar (1992-1), p. 28. Mint State. Deep brown surfaces, with some lighter, dusty green highlights and immense relief. Ex David B. Simpson Collection. $265.