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V29 2026 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 6, 2026, Article 23

NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: FEBRUARY 8, 2026

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

Numismagram Medal Selections: February 8, 2026 Item 1 Obverse 103396 | FRANCE & EGYPT. Conquest of Lower Egypt silver Medal.jpg

103396 | FRANCE & EGYPT. Conquest of Lower Egypt silver Medal. Dated Year VII of the Republic (1798/9), but issued circa 1802 (33mm, 13.92 g, 12h). By Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet at the Paris mint.

River god Nilus (Nile) reclining left, head turned slightly right, with eight small nude attendants around, along with crocodile, cornucopia, and sphinx; CONQUÊTE DE LA / BASSE EGYPTE / AN VII in three lines // View of the Giza pyramid complex; in three lines in exergue, DENON DIR G. DU / MUSÉE C. D. ARTS / BRENET. Edge: Plain.

Lecompte 4 Ionnikoff 3; Hennin 850; d'Essling 756; Julius 627; Fonrobert 5081. PCGS MS-62. Brilliant gunmetal gray surfaces, with some wondrous iridescent color across both sides; an old, stray mark in the obverse field is all that prevents an even higher designation. No doubt one of the most of attractive of this larger-sized type in silver that one will encounter. A splendid original striking from an earlier die state, well before a large die crack and subsequent cud would form on the obverse. Compare to a similar example that realized a total of £1,600 ($2,533 after the 20% buyer's fee) in Roma XXIV (28 March 2022), lot 1648.

Napoléon's campaign in Egypt sparked a tremendous interest into all things related to there, with the discovery (and subsequent translation of) the Rosetta Stone allowing for an ever deeper understanding of the ancient Egyptians. Various medals touch upon aspects of this campaign, with some of the more famous channeling ancient coinage for inspiration. One such type commemorates the subjugation of Egypt, with the coinage of Augustus (and a crocodile) serving as the prototype, whereas another (the present type) was inspired by many of the depictions of Nilus (the personification of the Nile River) upon various ancient coins. Here, in addition to Nilus, the Giza pyramid complex is depicted, serving as a representation of this wonder of the ancient world.

To read the complete item description, see:
103396 | FRANCE & EGYPT. Conquest of Lower Egypt silver Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103396)

Numismagram Medal Selections: February 8, 2026 Item 2 Obverse 103450 | GREAT BRITAIN & SPAIN. Arthur, Duke of Wellington bronze Medal.jpg

103450 | GREAT BRITAIN & SPAIN. Arthur, Duke of Wellington bronze Medal. Dated 1813, though issued 1820 for Mudie's "National Series": The Surrender of Pamplona (40mm, 36.39 g, 12h). By Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet & Jean-Pierre Droz.

ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON, bare head right // ENGLAND PROTECTS THE TOWN OF POMPEI, Britannia on horse trotting right, approaching female civic personification of Pamplona, presenting keys to the city; in three lines in exergue, CAPITULATION OF PAMPELUNE / OCTOBER THE 31 / MDCCCXIII. Edge: Plain.

BHM 765; Eimer 1037; Eimer, Wellington 30b; Bramsen 2254; Mudie 25. Gem Mint State. Rich chocolate brown surfaces, with intense lustrous brilliance.

James Mudie's provided text for his "National Series" mentions the following regarding this particular medal: "The capture of this fortress, which took place on the 3lst of October 1813, was the concluding event of the war in the west of Spain. Wellington was then hovering on the south-western frontiers of France, which he soon afterwards penetrated, having marched triumphantly from the borders of Portugal, after opening the campaign, without once retrograding."

To read the complete item description, see:
103450 | GREAT BRITAIN & SPAIN. Arthur, Duke of Wellington bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103450)

Numismagram Medal Selections: February 8, 2026 Item 3 Obverse 103157 | SPAIN. Córdoba. Mosque/Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption bronze Medal.jpg

103157 | SPAIN. Córdoba. Mosque/Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption bronze Medal. Issued 1859. Most Remarkable Edifices of Europe series (59mm, 102.90 gms, 12h). By Jacques Wiener in Brussels and struck at the Geerts mint in Ixelles.

Interior view of the cathedral from the southwest looking northeast; in five lines in exergue, MEZQUITA ERIGIDA 786 / POR ABD-EL-RAHMAN / CONVERTIDA EN IGLESIA / POR FERNANDO III / 1236 // Interior view of the former mosque with the three arches of the maqsura and the mihrab in the far distance; in two lines in exergue, CATEDRAL / DE CORDOBA. Edge: Plain.

Ross M219 (R1); van Hoydonck 168; Reinecke 59. Choice Mint State. Rich brown surfaces, with great glossiness in the fields; a few very minor spots of corrosion are noted. One of Wiener's more powerful and enticing types, and no doubt a premium-quality example with respect to others of the same grade level. Compare to a vastly inferior example in Stack's Coin Galleries (10 September 2008), lot 1656 (which sold for a total of $1,035[!]). $765.

With a groundbreaking at the end of the 8th century, the edifice that would become the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption began its life as a mosque, being constructed on the orders of Abd al-Rahman I, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty in the Iberian Peninsula. After 450 years, the house of worship fell into Christian hands in 1236 following the Reconquista. It continued to undergo modifications, with some of the more recent restorations leading to new discoveries about the Islamic-era elements and architecture. As such, it was highly influential in its earlier life in the architectural style throughout the Muslim world of the Mediterranean.

From what is today eastern Netherlands and western Germany, the Wieners were a Jewish family of exceptional medalists, especially known for numerous numismatic works throughout the Kingdom of Belgium. Eldest brother Jacob (Jacques), along with younger brothers Leopold and Charles, created some of the finest works of medallic art of the 19th century, and all are particularly noted for their work in the highly detailed and intricate work of architectural renderings.

To read the complete item description, see:
103157 | SPAIN. Córdoba. Mosque/Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103157)

Numismagram Medal Selections: February 8, 2026 Item 4 Obverse 102953 | FRANCE. Paris International Expo bronze Award Medal.jpg

102953 | FRANCE. Paris International Expo bronze Award Medal. Issued 1900 as the official prize [awarded to the widow Greuillet-Baillargeau] (63mm, 104.77 g, 12h). By Jules-Clément Chaplain at the Paris mint.

REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, bust of Marianne right, wearing oak wreath; oak tree to the left; cityscape of Paris in the background to right // EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE INTERNATIONALE, Victory flying left, with head upturned to the right, holding a wreath and palm frond, and bearing victor, holding a torch, upon her back; view of the expo hall in the background; in exergue, cartouche with "Mme Vve GREUILLET / BAILLARGEAU" embossed in two lines. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE.

Button 29; Wurzbach 7193. Choice Mint State. Olive-brown surfaces, with a charming matte nature. Includes original box of issue—rather rare as such.

Visited by more than 50 million visitors, the 1900 Paris World's Fair, styled in French as the Exposition Universelle, ran from 14 April to 12 November, occurring in conjunction with the games of the II Olympiad—also held in Paris. The theme of the expo was a celebration of the century that was and the century that would be. Some of the technological advancements that were exhibited included the diesel engine, electric cars, talking films, and dry cell batteries, with Art Nouveau given a spotlight and being introduced to the world. This particular award was presented to a widow—madame Greuillet-Baillargeau of Poiters—in class 52 (hunting products) for tanned goose skins, with her home of Poitiers being especially famous and renowned for the high quality of its geese.

To read the complete item description, see:
102953 | FRANCE. Paris International Expo bronze Award Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102953)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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