NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JUNE 22, 2025

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 25, 2025, Article 15

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

103212 | ITALY. Dionisio Ratta of Bologna cast bronze Medal. Dated 1592, and issued circa early-mid 17th century (66mm, 119.98 g, 11h). By Felice Antonio Casoni, fl. 1592-1634. + DIONYSIVS DE RATA VTR SIC REF ETS INQVISIT PRAELATVS CONS, cloaked bust right // DIVO / PETRO MARTVRI / TEMPLVM EREXIT / ET SEPVLCHRVM / SIBI CONSTRVXIT / SEDENTE / CLEMENTE VIII / PONT MAX / A D MDXCII (he erected the temple of Saint Peter, the martyr, and constructed his sepulcher, with the Pope Clemens VIII reigning in the year of the lord 1592) in nine lines. Edge: Some light marks as made, otherwise plain. Pollard 547 = Kress 476 (also holed at the top). Choice Extremely Fine. Warm red-brown surfaces, with some chasing on the higher points; pierced at the top. Ex Michael Hall Collection, part III (Baldwin's 67, 28 September 2010), lot 2292. $495.

Pollard, in Renaissance Medals, writes that "...Dionisio Ratta (d. 1597) of Bologna graduated from Bologna University on 19 March 1572 and became one of the Giudici di Collegio in that year. He held various offices in Rome, such as auditor of the Rota, a sacred court of the Catholic Church. The reverse inscription records the construction of the Church of Saint Peter Martyr in Bologna and the erection of Ratta's tomb. The foundation stone was laid in 1592. Dolfi noted that medals of Ratta were placed in the church's foundations." About the artist of this medal, Felice Antonio Casoni, he writes that "...Casoni was born in Ancona and died in Rome. He was trained in Bologna and was employed there as early as 1592. Casoni is recorded as the architect of conventional buildings in Rome and as a sculptor, wax modeler, and medalist. Six medals are attributed to him, four of which are dated 1592."

103193 | UNITED STATES, CANADA & WESTERN EUROPE. George II brass Medal. Issued 1759. British victories of the year (43mm, 32.83 g, 12h). GEORGIVS • II • REX •, laureate, garlanded, and armored bust left // Shield with an inverted fleur-de-lis surrounded by garter with PERFIDIA EVERSA and plain roundels; below, ribbon inscribed W. PITT AUSP. GEO. II PR. MI.; around, list of campaigns and their commanders: QUEBEC / WOLFE / MONCKn.TOWNSd. / SEP.13 & 18 | CROWN POINT / AMHERST / AUG.4 | LAGOS / BOSCAWEN / AUG.19 | MINDEN / FERDINAND / AUG. 1 | GUADALOUPE / BARINGn. MOORE / MAY. 1 | NIAGARA / IOHNSON / IULY 25 | HAWKE / QUIBERON / NOV. 20. Edge: Plain. Betts 418; Ford XIV, 62-65; MI-708/444; Eimer 677. About Uncirculated. Deep brown surfaces, with some lighter tan hues nearer the peripheries. A great medallic issue pertaining to Colonial America and the French & Indian War. $365.

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. This medal celebrates British successes against the French in the Americas (Battles of Guadaloupe [West Indies], Niagara [New York], Crown Point [New York], and Québec [Canada]), as well as in Europe (Battles of Minden [Prussia] and Lagos [Portugal]). The subtle satirical nature takes form in the inverted fleur-de-lis at the center of the reverse.

103192 | BELGIUM. Art Deco bronze Medal. Issued 1951 for the 25th anniversary of the founding of the NMBS/SNCB (National Railway Company of Belgium) (69mm, 146.97 g, 12h). By Marcel Rau. Heads of Hermes/Mercury, wearing winged petasos, and Demeter/Ceres, wearing grain wreath, left; wheel with thunderbolt below // Outline of Belgium, with map of the rail routes; company logo below. Edge: FISCH. Choice Mint State. Tan-olive surfaces, with a pleasing matte aspect. An attractive Art Deco design. Includes original roundelle of issue, though a bit distressed. $245.

Known in Dutch as the Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) and in French as the Nationale Gesellschaft der Belgischen Eisenbahnen (SNCB), the National Railway Company of Belgium was formed in 1926 as a successor to the Belgian State Railways. The logo of the company was designed 10 years later by Henry van de Velde, and consists solely of the linguistically neutral letter B (indicative of the country) within a horizontal oval, as can be seen on the reverse of this medal.

103178 | ITALY. Vatican City. Pope Pius XII silver Medal. Issued Year XV (1953). Commemorating the Papal Consistory (44mm, 33.35 g, 12h). By Aurelio Mistruzzi at the Rome mint. PIVS • XII • PONTIFEX • MAX • ANN • XV, bust right, wearing zucchetto, stole, and pallium // EX • MVLTIS• GENTIBVS • PVRPVRATORVM • PATRVM • ORDO • COMPLETVS, Pius, surrounded by cardinals, seated left on throne, blessing new cardinal kneeling to left, and presenting him with a galero. Edge: Plain. Bartolotti E953; Rinaldi 147; Cusumano-Modesti 204. Gem Mint State. Exceptionally brilliant and prooflike, with some alluring pastel toning nearer the peripheries. $195.

Consistories in Catholicism represent times at which a pope can create new cardinals, adding them to the College of Cardinals. Due to death or retirement, the number of cardinals decreases, creating the need for periodic additions during such consistories. Pius XII was elected to the papacy in 1939 during a conclave consisting of 62 cardinals. The second of his two consistories occurred in 1953, with the first occurring in 1946. During the second, the first Indian cardinal was ordained—Valerian Gracias, who served as the Archbishop of Bombay from 1950 until his death in 1978.

103148 | NEW ZEALAND & UNITED STATES. "Pacific Rim" openwork cast bronze Medal. Issued 2001 (117mm, 238.11 g). By Jim Wheeler at Art Works Studio Ltd in Auckland. Five-petalled frangipani blossom within a circular band, with the back stamped 5/25 and with the artist's personal mark. Edge: Plain. As Made. Light brown surfaces. Very rare and impressive, with an astounding tactile nature serially numbered 5 of just 25 made. Ex David Nicholas Silich Collection, Part II (acquired from Simmons Gallery, 2002). $495.

The artist of this exotic piece, Jim Wheeler, was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina in 1952 and moved to New Zealand in 1981. According to Wheeler, "...Pacific Rim was part of an international touring exhibition entitled Pacific Rim – Te Pae Te Moananui a Kiwa, shown in Auckland, Christchurch, London, and New York between 2001 and 2004."