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Chasing beauty - What is beauty? Post your most beautiful world coins and medals!


robinjojo

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9 minutes ago, robinjojo said:

Latin American has produced some beautiful coins, among them the sunface 8 soles of Argentina, 1815 FL.  This is the very scarce variety with the "S" of the revolutionary soles punched over the colonial "R" of colonial reales.  Purchased from Karl Stephens in 1999.

Struck at the Potosi, Bolivia Mint (PTS monogram on reverse).

KM 15

26.91 grams

1356740233_D-CameraArgentina8soles1815soverrdenominationsunfaceCJ6_126.91g6-7-22.thumb.jpg.e61db8e3cbdc7ca9f6512660823b2db0.jpg

Nice. Karl always has nice stuff.

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I always love Italian money, in part because of their realism. 4A664274-7FF5-4AC5-AAC4-867554718444.thumb.jpeg.c26303d16f98959626d9eb138ac58abd.jpeg
 

I also like some specific coins from the late Qing Empire and early Republic of China, almost all by Giorgi. A180AF2F-2EB4-4386-AE56-47F57A07A37A.thumb.jpeg.74d54544dcf44940745294a12a4b2c2c.jpegB9881989-2BAD-4CAD-9D93-D73BFE299DDF.thumb.jpeg.ceff21a34aead4698ce3fdde30e6c308.jpeg
 

I also enjoy anything Art Nouveau and Art Deco. One example of Art Deco coinage that not many people seem to mention is Percy Metcalf’s series for Turkey in the 1930s. I only need the biggest and smallest ones (the 1 kuruş and 1 lira). I always found the Art Deco treatment of Atatürk himself to be an interesting design choice.

0CBF6B80-5AD7-47C4-A952-3DCE32D127A6.thumb.jpeg.3b3c0469abf0ed9690ac33db4953b6a7.jpeg07F97F49-9833-4117-A36A-C0990D936715.thumb.jpeg.7e8a616900d8f6017c5243ad0abe5aa9.jpegFA5B3D72-182F-42AF-AAA2-980AD62B4F87.thumb.jpeg.bb34ecbed5dbf7710f7911703075738b.jpeg
 

I also collect Japanese, mainly pre-Meiji, but a few milled ones. 

232ED2AE-5FAB-4ABB-B2F3-3A0C74BF0DB5.thumb.jpeg.59f2af9406d83f4ffbb1bae6ccd32cc0.jpeg9A5E9D8E-EB5C-460D-8857-F241212DFB44.thumb.jpeg.11fb6ef637e20453a6f6411684ca9c2c.jpeg
 

This is a general observation about pre-Meiji Japanese coins in my experience. It seems like past a certain point the amount of types you can easily get really dries up once you have the really common four minor silver and gold ones. Of course, maybe I just don’t keep a close enough eye on Stephen Album’s stuff.

Edited by milesofwho
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I really need to get my world coins imaged - long before even considering branching into ancients or seriously pursuing Japanese, I used to go and blow $10-20 on literal bags of world coins, of which I built an eclectic accumulation of pretty stuff. Most of these were more recent purchases,  but I like them:

I have a handful of notgeld, but this 50pf from Frankenthal is my favorite - one of the more captivating designs of the 20th century IMO358587701_Frankenthal50pfnotgeld1919.thumb.jpg.2779f2f031e6775c238c779c84528fc4.jpg

I've always been a sucker for those big French colonial aluminum pieces

1523090959_ZomboDroid07042020135229.thumb.jpg.307874583778e0205cf07ae102ca221c.jpg

A more recent purchase - my pick from a large lot of these @CNG - Horrible person, but beautiful crown sized silver

838667221_Belgiumsilver5francs1869.thumb.jpg.57bbd19f70e8387e5350eab819d7d9b9.jpg

 

Ditto with the USSR - horrendous, corrupt state but darn it if their propaganda wasn't beautiful and inspiring

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And I guess these aren't technically "world" coins from the perspective of an American, but I got these three Hard Times Tokens for peanuts at Roma maybe a year ago, and it's like holding one of those scathing early 19th century political cartoons in your hand

826900013_HardTimesTokenJacksonITakeTheResponsibility1830s.thumb.jpg.a25a31ee8b1e6601f4f26b433340eae5.jpg1676853585_HardTimesTokenJacksonMySubstituteforUSBank.thumb.jpg.e037012a83e478cadfb24d5facbd90ec.jpg1679069360_HardTimesTokenIllustriousPredecessors1837.thumb.jpg.bc2a46055e05d6a618b8334d75e73f86.jpg

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Silly collectors, how can you have beauty on coins without Dania representing Denmark:

 

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She even appears on medallic plaquettes for Carlsberg Brewery in Kobenhavn designed by Chaplain and minted in Paris to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the brewery:

 

denmarkcarlbergmedalfr.jpg.dc385d2adcad3f607452be8ab573ad33.jpgdenmarkcarlbergmedalrv.jpg.69dbfc5f6e6bfaf0dc83d7a699196367.jpg

Forgive the swastikas, they were later hijacked by a bunch of idiots to the south in Germany

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Thank you for an interesting post, robinjojo

I’m primarily a collector of Judaean coins but I have a secondary passion which is collecting historic French military medals. I’m not French but I have become a serious Francophile after visiting the Musée de l'Armée in Paris and touring many of the French battlefields and military cemeteries.

Anyway, here is one of my favorite French military medals. I think the portrait of Marianne, Goddess of Liberty is beautiful and the medal has an elegant Art Nouveau quality.

image.thumb.jpeg.77ab77df6140db8de40e53c898eb5124.jpeg

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I am primarily a collector of Roman coins, but I think that some of the most beautiful ancient coins I own are Greek.

Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Obv: Pegasos flying left, Q below / Rev: Helmeted head of Athena left. Control-symbols behind head: Retrograde N and Ares standing left holding shield and spear. Pegasi 376 var. [“N” not retrograde] [Calciati, R., Pegasi Vol. I (Mortara, 1990)]; Ravel 1056 var. [“N” not retrograde] [Ravel, O.E., Les "Poulains" de Corinthe, I - II (Basel, 1936; London, 1948)]; BCD Corinth 121 [Numismatik Lanz, Münzen von Korinth: Sammlung B, Auction 105 (Munich, 26 Nov. 2001)]; SNG Copenhagen 121 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 15, Corinth (Copenhagen 1944)]. 21mm, 8.46 g., 6h. Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. Auction IX, 22 March 2015, Lot 168.

Corinth AR Stater jpg version.jpg

Aspendos, Pamphylia, Asia Minor, AR Stater ca. 380/75-330/25 BCE (Tekin, 4th Series [see fn.]). Obv. Two standing wrestlers, naked, grappling with legs spread apart and heads touching; wrestler on left grasps his opponent’s left wrist with his right hand, and left elbow with his left hand; wrestler on right grasps his opponent’s left arm with his right hand; letters “KI” [for name of minting magistrate] in field between wrestlers, below knee level / Rev. Slinger wearing short chiton, standing with trunk in facing position, head and legs in profile facing right, legs held straight with feet apart, left arm extended forward holding sling with left thumb, right arm drawing sling back with elbow bent; triskeles in right field with legs running left; ΕΣΤϜΕΔΙΙΥΣ [adjectival form of city name Estwediius in Pamphylian dialect of Ancient Greek] upwards behind slinger; all contained within square dotted border. SNG Copenhagen 226 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 31, Lycia, Pamphylia (Copenhagen 1955)]; SNG Von Aulock II 4557 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin 1962)]; BMC 19 Lycia 45-46 [both with initials “KI” on obv.] [Hill, G.F. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia (London, 1897) at p. 99]; Sear GCV Vol. II 5397 (obv. var. -- diff. magistrate’s initials) [Sear, David, Greek Coins and their Values, Vol. II, Asia & Africa (Seaby 1979) at p. 491], 26 mm., 10.96 g. Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 217th Buy or Bid Sale, 17 Sep. 2021, Lot 132; ex Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 7 March 2001.*


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[See the attached video, which I think conveys the beauty of the coin better than the photo. But: how do I reduce its size? It's huge! Here's a link to a more reasonably-sized version of the video at the HJB website; just click on the forward arrow at the bottom of the linked page: https://www.hjbltd.com/#!/inventory/item-detail/ancient-coins/97600?fromBbs=217th Buy Or Bid Sale ]

*Aspendos, near the south coast of Anatolia, ”was an ancient city in Pamphylia, Asia Minor, located about 40 km east of the modern city of Antalya, Turkey. It was situated on the Eurymedon River about 16 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspendos. It was captured by the Persians in 411 BCE (not for the first time), and remained under Persian domination until captured by Alexander the Great in 333 BCE. Id.

In the introduction to BMC 19 Lydia, supra at p. lxxii, the reverse legend in the Pamphylian dialect and the reverse iconography of the slinger on this type of Aspendian “wrestler stater” are explained as follows:

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See also the Wikipedia article on Pamphylian Greek, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamphylian_Greek.

According to an important article on the Aspendian wrestler/slinger staters, this type falls into the so-called “4th Series” out of five, issued circa 380/75-330/25 BCE; it probably belongs to the later part of that period. See Tekin, Oğuz, Aspendian 'Wrestlers' : an iconographic approach, in: Mécanismes et innovations monétaires dans l’Anatolie achéménide. Numismatique et Histoire. Actes de la Table Ronde d’Istanbul, 22-23 mai 1997 (Istanbul : Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes-Georges Dumézil, 2000), pp. 159-169 at 165-167 (Varia Anatolica, 12) (available at https://www.persee.fr/doc/anatv_1013-9559_2000_act_12_1_956😞

“4th SERIES (c. 380/75 - c. 330/25 B.C.)

On the obverse of the staters which we have classified under this series there are letters found between the wrestlers at knee level (pl. XXVIII, 11). These letters are shown in Table 1 below [Table omitted; the two-letter combinations used include “KI”). . . . It is understood that in the first examples of the [4th] series there was only a single letter on the obverse or reverse.. . .

These letters figuring on the obverse of the staters indicated the initials of either the name of a single magistrate or of two different magistrates. The changed order of certain letters on some staters, that is the A figuring before the Z in one example (AZ) whereas in another the Z figures before A (IA), if not a coincidence, must have been done with considerations of equity as regards the priority in magistrates' names. There exist six such examples [listed in Table 3; KI is not included among them.] . . .

The noteworthy main feature on the obverse of the staters of this series is the position of the wrestlers. One of the wrestlers holds his opponent's arm with both hands, whereas the other holds his opponent's wrist. The wrestler's match therefore is now represented in one single position [by contrast to the 16 different positions found in some of the earlier series]. As regards the slinger on the reverse, there is not much change at first. But the quadratum incusum tends to disappear in the first examples and gradually becomes totally inexistant. Therefore, in the great majority of this series there is a square dotted border instead of the quadratum incusum on the reverse, the incuse [found on the earlier coinage] has disappeared.”

Although Tekin proceeds to discuss the countermarks that are common in the 4th Series, he notes that “The last examples of the fourth series do not have countermarks.” My coin does not have any countermarks.

 

Edited by DonnaML
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Those are two beautiful staters, Donna.  I really like their style, very nice dies and very good strikes.  Additionally, the color of the Aspendos, Pamphylia is outstanding!

I've been looking around for a nice Aspendos, Pamphylia stater, but finding one like yours is truly a challenge to locate!

I reduced the video image size of your coin, creating two images and reduced the light slightly.  The top one is without haze reduction.  The bottom one has haze reduction.  I'm not sure which one comes closest to your coin's appearance, so I have posted two.

6236315_AspendosPamphyliastaterDonnareducedsizeimage6-9-22.thumb.jpg.d70fe7470f9ca0aa9c4fd112700a397c.jpg

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To me, there is great beauty in the Apollo of the Katana tets of the so-called Maestro della foglia.

 

SICILY, Katane. Circa 435-412 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.04 g, 2h). Reverse die signed by the "Maestro della foglia.". Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in left hand and reins in both, driving fast quadriga of horses right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath held in both hands / Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; plane leaf to left (signature), KATANAION to right

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I would never part with this one.

1879 Joan of Arc - A. Poncet - Silver Medal

1879JoanOfArcOBV.jpg.bcc2a9d5bbaece44509b496e1a18dc8c.jpg

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Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France, martyrs, captives, military personnel, people ridiculed for their piety, prisoners, and soldiers.

An illiterate farm girl from Lorraine in eastern France.
As early as the age of twelve, she began to have mystical visions, which were often accompanied by light and the presence of saints such as St Michael and St Catherine telling her to deliver France from her enemies.
She made a strong impression on Charles de Ponthieu with her passion and conviction and given control over an army and allowed to lead them into battle. Within a year Joan of Arc had led the French army to victories at Orleans, Patay and Troyes.
Joan of Arc disguised herself as a man during her battles against the English and armies of the Duke of Burgundy.
She was finally captured and sold to the English, who had her tried for witchcraft in Rouen.
According to historians, Joan of Arc was 19 when she was burnt at the stake by the English on 30 May, 1431. Witnesses recount she faced her ordeal with dignity. It is said that over 10,000 people came to see her execution by burning.
The Cardinal of Winchester is recorded as having ordered her to be burnt a second time.
Her organs still survived this fire, so a third burning was ordered to destroy the body completely. Her cinders and debris were to be thrown into the Seine.
Joan of Arc achieved a remarkable achievement in her short life. In particular, she embodied religious devotion with great bravery and humility, her life helped change the course of French history.

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”
– Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was canonised a saint in 1920. During the Second World War, both Vichy France and the French resistance claimed Joan of Arc as a national symbol for their cause.

1879JoanOfArcGallery.jpg.714bfc81d8e08e823a1f6040ce1ebf79.jpg

 

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1899 Ville du Havre - Société canine de la Basse-Seine

1899FranceVilleduHavrecanineLargeOBV.jpg.1cfb8c357ca4a9962323e1c6016a8256.jpg

 

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1899 French Medal - Ville du Havre - Société canine de la Basse-Seine by Louis Bottee

This obverse appears on other medals but this one really caught my eye. I have been looking at these medals for quite some time.
That rooster on the helmet or cap of Marianne is in my opinion amazing.
The engraving and design of this medal is beautiful. I love the dogs on the reverse.
Perhaps there was a dog show around 1900?
Maybe the Canine Society is similar to the AKC?
I do not know, but there seems to be a series of these similar medals.
This same reverse with the dogs also appears on other medals with different images of Marianne on the obverse, but that rooster had me at first hello.

The artist / engraver

Louis Alexandre Bottee was born in Paris, France on March 14, 1852. At age 13 Bottée was apprenticed to an engraver. He later studied at Ecole des Beaux-Arts and privately with Paulin Tasset.

He is best known as an engraver of international exposition medals including Expositions Universelles of 1889 and 1900 in Paris, the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) of 1893, Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St Louis World's Fair) in 1904. He also did the 1906 Restoration of San Francisco medal. He was made an officer of the Legion d'honneur in 1903. He died in Paris in November 1940.

1899FranceVilleduHavrecaninesilveredbronzeGallery.jpg.5f60a4bf617799e9158634164b103bea.jpg

 

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For me, the most beautiful coin in the world is the George III Pistrucci crown - certainly the most beautiful coin (in my eyes) that i own.

The obverse portrait is beautiful and artistic, the St George /dragon reverse is iconic.

 

May be an image of money

May be an image of money

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I think some of my City of London medals are rather attractive, especially if one likes Victorian/Art Nouveau style:

the Corporation of the City of London issued a series of 30 large bronze medals between 1831 and 1902, celebrating occasions such as the opening of buildings and the reception of British and foreign royalty in the City. Except for the very early ones, they're mostly between 70 and 80 mm. in diameter. Some are extremely expensive because of demand by collectors from certain countries, like those issued for the visits of the Czar of Russia and the Shah of Persia (both of which I once owned but sold), but most can be bought for under $500 when they're available -- which isn't necessarily that often given the relatively low mintage numbers.

A rather elaborate book was published covering the first 26 of the 30: Welch, Charles, Numismata Londinensia, Medals Struck by the Corporation of London to Commemorate Important Municipal Events, 1831 to 1893 (London 1894) ("Welch"). This website has photos and descriptions of all of them: http://www.historicalartmedals.com/...NAILS/CITY OF LONDON/brand new thumbnails.htm.

I once owned 10 of these medals but sold all but two some years ago. Here are the five I currently own, with the three I purchased at a recent CNG auction.

Great Britain, 1837, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 5), Queen Victoria’s Visit to the City of London, by William Wyon. Obv. Diademed head of Queen Victoria left, VICTORIA REGINA, Wyon's name engraved at truncation / Façade of the Guildhall with Royal Standard flying above; in exergue, IN HONOUR OF HER MAJESTY’S VISIT/TO THE CORPORATION OF LOND/9TH NOV: 1837. 54 mm. Eimer 1304 & Pl. 141, BHM II 1775 (ill. p. 7), Welch 5 & Pl. II (see pp. 43-46) , Whittlestone & Ewing 72A (ill. p. 16)]. [Footnote omitted.]

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Great Britain, 1882, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 17), The Dedication of Epping Forest, by Charles Wiener. Obv. Bust of Queen Victoria l., wearing the small diamond crown, sash and Orders/ Rev. Londinia standing facing the seated Queen within a forest setting, holding gate open to winding pathway, IT GIVES ME THE GREATEST SATISFACTION TO DEDICATE THIS BEAUTIFUL FOREST FOR THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF MY PEOPLE FOR ALL TIME. EPPING FOREST, 6 MAY 1882. 75 mm., 268 g. Eimer 1689 & Pl. 184, BHM 3128, Welch 17.

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(The photos for the three I recently bought are CNG's.)

Great Britain, 1891, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 24), Visit of Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, to the City of London, by Elkington & Co. Obv. Busts three-quarters right, conjoined, of Wilhelm II, uniformed and wearing helmet surmounted by eagle, and the Empress, Augusta Victoria, draped (Wilhelm to left over Augusta Victoria to right), with heads turned to right, GULIELMUS II IMPERATOR ET REX / Rev. Londinia to right, wearing a helmet surmounted by a dragon, leans against a stone balustrade of the Embankment, and rests her right hand upon a low throne, on which is seated Germania to left; Londinia points with her left hand to the shipping on the Thames, beyond; St. Paul’s Cathedral is seen to left on opposite bank; Germania, helmeted, holds a sword in her left hand across her lap, her right hand resting on a shield bearing the arms of Germany. In the foreground on left is the British lion peacefully reclining right; below, at the foot of the throne, are two doves; to right, stone facia inscribed with the date JULY 10TH 1891 (incuse). 80 mm., 332 g., 12 h. Eimer 1768 & Pl. 195, BHM 3412, Welch 24, Whittlestone & Ewing 1668. Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC), E-Sale 511, March 9, 2022, Lot 558.

Screenshot 2022-03-07 Emperor & Empress of Germany Visit to London.jpg


Great Britain, 1893, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 25), Marriage of George Duke of York [future George V] to Princess Mary of Teck, by G.G. Adams. Obv. Busts left, conjoined, she draped, George Duke of York and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (George to right over Mary to left), T.R.H. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK around, MDCCCXCIII beneath busts / Rev. The bride and bridegroom, with George to left wearing crown, raising right arm, and gazing upon Mary, advance left in a triumphal chariot driven by Cupid and drawn by two horses, and approach an archway with banners, bearing the monogram G M and inscribed FELICITAS G M, through which is seen St. Paul’s Cathedral; the couple are welcomed by Londinia standing right in front of horses, holding a cornucopiae up with her right hand towards Mary’s extended right hand. In exergue, JULY 6TH, 1893. 71 mm., 248.5 g., 12 h. Eimer 1780 & Pl. 197, BHM 3452, Welch 25, Whittlestone & Ewing 1763. Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC), E-Sale 511, March 9, 2022, Lot 760.

Screenshot 2022-03-07 City of London 1893 Marriage of Prince George & Mary of Teck).jpg


Great Britain, 1902, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 30). Visit of Edward VII and Alexandra to City of London, by Searle & Co. Obv. Busts left, conjoined and draped, she crowned (Edward to right over Alexandra to left); around from 7:00, IN HONOUR OF THE VISIT OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING EDWARD VII & QUEEN ALEXANDRA TO THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON; beneath busts, date • 25 OCT. 1902 • / Rev. Londinia, standing on right, crowned, facing left, presents a welcoming address to the King and Queen above her, seated three-quarters right upon dais on left. To left and beneath King and Queen, a ribbon inscribed CIVIVM AMOR ET FIDES; to right, fanfare blown by Fame on trumpet; beyond, façade of Guildhall. In exergue, sceptre and mace, crossed. 76 mm., 245.5 g., 12 h. Eimer 1874 & Pl. 208, BHM 3868, Whittlestone & Ewing 4850. Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC), E-Sale 511, March 9, 2022, Lot 768.

Screenshot 2022-03-07 Edward VII & Alexandra, Coronation & Visit to City of London.jpg

One more:

Great Britain, 1863, AE Commemorative Medal for the Corporation of the City of London (No. 9), Entry of Princess Alexandra of Denmark into the City of London on 7 March 1863 (in advance of her marriage on 10 March to the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII). By J.S. and A.B. Wyon. Obv. Bust of Princess Alexandra left, ALEXANDRA; J.S. WYON SC. beneath truncation / Rev. Londinia in center, draped and wearing mural crown, stands left with right arm outstretched to welcome the Princess standing right, led by the Prince of Wales, wearing Order of Garter[?], standing facing between them, holding her left hand. On the far left is Hymen, bearing torch, and on the far right, Peace (winged) and Plenty, the latter waiting on bended knee, with cornucopiae overflowing in front of her, to present diamond necklace and earrings which she bears on a velvet cushion. Behind them, the triumphal arch erected at London Bridge to welcome the Princess, surmounted by split quadriga with Britannia at center. WELCOME – ALEXANDRA above; in exergue, a shield with the City arms between the words MAR. 1863; J.S. & A.B. WYON SC. above to right. 77 mm., 249.1 g. Eimer 1561 & Pl. 170; BHM 2783; Welch 9; Whittlestone & Ewing 901. Mintage: 350.

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Some more Art Nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite medals, to follow up on the two Art Deco medals I posted earlier:

Great Britain, 1837-1897, AR Official Royal Mint Medal to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of Victoria's Reign. Obv. Bust l., crowned, veiled and draped, VICTORIA ANNVM REGNI SEXAGESIMVM FELICITER CLAVDIT XX IVN. MDCCCXCVII. Rev. Young head of the Queen, l., dividing inscription LONGITVDO DIERVM IN DEXTERAEIVS ET IN SINISTRA GLORIA. Below, 1837 upon branch tied with ribbon. By G.W. de Saulles, after T.Brock/W. Wyon. Eimer 1817a, BHM 3506. 56 mm, 82.5 g.

Victoria 1837-1897 Obv.jpg

Victoria 1837-1897 Rev..jpg

Great Britain 1911, AR Official Medal for Investiture of Prince of Wales [the future Edward VIII]. Obv. Bust three-quarters l., crowned and draped, CARNARVON IVLY. XIII MCMXI across the field. INVESTITURE OF EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES. K.G. / Rev. Caernarvon Castle; the Welsh dragon, below. GORPHENAF MCMXI above, on a radiate sky decorated with the Prince's crest within Garter, crowned. ARWISGIAD. IORWERTH TYWYSOG. CYMRU. M.G. By W. Goscombe John. Eimer 1925, BHM 4079. 35 mm., 22.5 g. [The blue toning seems to have come from the medal being kept in its case since issuance.]

1911 Prince of Wales Investiture Obv..jpg

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Now some French medals.

France 1898, La Source and Le Nid, both by Daniel Dupuis. AE

La Source & Le Nid Obv. Dupuis 1898.jpg

La Source & Le Nid Dupuis 1898 Rev..jpg

France 1922, L'Enfant aux Roses, by Ovide Yencesse. Silvered AE.

Ovide Yencesse 1922 Enfant aux Roses - Girl-Flowers Obv.jpg

Ovide Yencesse 1922 Enfant aux Roses Girl-Flowers Rev..jpg

France 1896. National and Colonial Exhibition, Rouen. Silvered AE by Oscar Roty. Obv. Woman seated r. against tree, barefoot, knitting, against pastoral background, NORMANNIA NVTRIX / Rev. View of City of Rouen, EXPOSITION NATIONALE ET COLONIALE; ROVEN in field above city view; MDCCCXCVI below. 69 mm., 137.3 g.

Roty Rouen O3.jpg

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France ca. 1920. Nude woman eating grapes[?], by Georges Crouzat.

Georges Crouzat - Nude w. Grapes.jpg

France 1900. Medal for Universal Paris Exposition of 1900, silvered AE by Oscar Roty. 51 x 36 mm. (Distributed to judges and officials of the Olympic Games held in Paris that summer in conjunction with the Exposition.)

Roty, Paris Exposition 1900 Obv..jpg

Roty, Paris Exposition 1900 Rev..jpg

France 1900. Another Art Nouveau medal issued to commemorate the 1900 Paris Exposition, this one in AE (53 mm.) by Georges Lemaire. Note the airship, the battleship, and the other tools of science and industry depicted on the reverse.

Lemaire Paris Exposition 1900 Obv..jpg

Lemaire Paris Exposition 1900 Rev..jpg

Finally, a silvered AE plaque in the Art Nouveau style by the French medallist Paul Vannier, 49 x 70 mm., issued for the 1906 "Intercalated" Olympic Games in Athens, which originally were held as official Olympic Games in between the 1904 and 1908 games -- and were intended to be held every four years in Athens in between the regular games, beginning 10 years after the first modern games in 1896 -- with the results counting as official Olympic records. These games were later demoted to unofficial status.

Obv. Athlete stands holding a sword, laurel branch, and victory wreath in right hand, and a shield in left hand; in foreground the Athens Olympic Stadium with crowd; in background the Acropolis, with rising sun/ Rev. Winged angel holding trumpet in left hand to proclaim the victor and and a laurel branch in right hand, flying over an olive grove near the Acropolis; space for inscribing name of participating athlete.

1906 Athens Olympics P. Vannier Obverse.jpg

1906 Athens Olympics Plaque P. Vannier Reverse.jpg

Edited by DonnaML
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This is one that I wrote up on that other site. It is an incredible piece in my opinion. 

Silver medal dated 1591
On Happiness in Marriage and the New Year
by Valetin Maler, father of Christian Maler

Diameter: 45.77 mm
Weight: 40.47 g.

image.jpeg.3a8a9ee41187480082e5f787094b00ed.jpeg

Obverse: An old man sits on an armchair with a child in his right arm and a Bible in his left, r. next to it stands a naked boy with a palm branch; In the background stands a female figure holding a crown over the old man, in her left hand a flaming goblet
Obverse Inscription:  BEATUS VIR QVI TIME T DNVM ETAMBVLAT IN VIIS EIVS PSA:128
Translation: HAPPY MAN WHO TIMET unexpectedly that follow the path he PSALMS: 128
Reverse: 17 lines of writing.

 

This is the actual plate piece from the Ehrlanger catalog on Nuremberg medals. I purchased it as ex. Ehrlanger but raw. I sent it in to NGC and they agreed. Even though I sent plenty of proof it was from his catalog I still was more stressed than I should have been until I saw the proof.  

image.thumb.jpeg.6a84cdef9537be60859d705e677fffcc.jpeg

 

 

Erlanger Auction File 03.pdf

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Of course @DonnaML I could figure you would post stuff that I would lust for owning.  I commend your having amazingly good tastes in coins, medals, art and artefacts.

 

netherlandsmedalwilhelmina.jpg.4af3e3ff9fdbdba35741d13e12a8253e.jpg

 

I like the coinage of Queen Wilhelmina of Netherlands, so this medal was also a must have.

 

netherlands10g1897.jpg.6c42cde571b8c1e021e7a0e6206219af.jpg

 

Queen Wilhelmina was only a young girl when she was thrust into the monarchy, she would rule deep into the 20th century when she abdicated in favour of her daughter Queen Juliana in 1948.  Just before the Euro was introduced it was still possible to find occasional Wilhelmina coins in circulation.

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4 minutes ago, UkrainiiVityaz said:

Of course @DonnaML I could figure you would post stuff that I would lust for owning.  I commend your having amazingly good tastes in coins, medals, art and artefacts.

Thank you, @UkrainiiVityaz; that's very kind of you. Perhaps I know you from the other place under a different name?

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