artnouveau

postwar

Gold Medals

Coinage through the ages has served the function both of currency (a store and measurement of value) and of medallic proclamation (dissemination of official information).

Is a Ptolemaic octodrachm or a multiple aurei of Constantine a coin or a medallion? The distinction would have been irrelevant to any society for whom money or currency was defined by the weight and purity of precious metal.

However, in our present era of unchecked government issue of paper and electronic money, there is a vast confusion as to the nature of currency. Currency is now a measurement of value and a "promise" of value - rather than a store of value. Thus Currency is now a form of debt.

This has led to the confused distinction that modern collectors hold between medallic issues and currency. Until our current era, medals have always been worth exactly their weight in precious metal - just like coins.

Many Royal Proclamation medals were crafted by some of the greatest artists of their era. They often are sculpted in high relief, in tiny mintages, to mark interesting and important historical events.

And they currently trade at a tiny fraction of similarly weighted common issue coins.

.............................................................................ROYAL GOLD PAGE 1

Great Britain, William IV (1830-37)

AV official gold coronation medal, (27.5gms) 1831, by William Wyon, bare head of the King righ, rev. diademed bust of the Queen right (BHM 1475, Eimer 1251),

From a mintage of 1000, but quite rare in this superb condition.

NGC PROOF 62 ULTRA CAMEO.... sold

Great Britain, Victoria, 1837-1901.

Official Gold Coronation Medal (31.17 g), London, 1838, by B. Pistrucci. Victoria. Rev. Victoria seated left, with lion behind her to right, receiving crown from Britannia, Scotia and Hibernia. Brown 1801. Eimer 1315. From a mintage of 1369 (a tough coronation medal to find at auction.) A few minor marks, otherwise

AU...........................................$4200

Great Britain George V, 1910-1936

Coronation, 1911, large gold medal by Bertram Mackennel, 51mm., (87.2g). (BHM.4022 note), the fields brilliant, small mark behind Queen's head, extremely rare, in (superb) red leather case of issue. 719 Large Gold medals minted, however:

"This piece is one of the very small number of examples of this medal that were stuck on polished blanks from polished dies (as opposed to the usual matt finish) that were presented to the King and Queen and possibly a few other VIPs." (quoted from Spink). Prov: Spink

BRILLIANT PROOF UNC....POR

Great Britain George VI, (1936-1952)

Very Large official gold medal for the Coronation, 1937, 56mm, (121gms.) signed by P. Metcalfe, crowned and dr. bust of George VI l., rev. crowned and dr. bust of Queen Elizabeth l., (Eimer 2046a), in original case of issue - Rare, from a mintage of 274 large gold medals. Prov: Baldwins

MINT STATE........................POR

KINGS OF FRANCE, Louis XVIII

Gold Medal ND (1818), (30.1 gms). Struck to mark the restoration of the Statue of Henri IV, after its destruction during the French Revolution. High relief portraits of Louis XVIII and Henri IV / Inscribed: "A NOS FIDÈLES SUJETS POUR AVOIR SPONTANÉMENT ET DE LEURS DENIERS RÉTABLI LA STATUE DE NOTRE VI AÏEUL HENRI IV’ (To our loyal subjects for having spontaneously and from their own means restored the statue of our 6th grandfather Henri IV) Signed by F. Gayrard. Very Rare in gold.

NGC MS62 ..............$4,250

Emperors of Russia Nicholas II (1868-1918)

Gold Award Medal "For Zeal," 1894-1915, by A. Vasyutinsky, Bust of Nicholas II left/Two line inscription (For Zeal) within wreath, Diakov 1138.3, (24.20 gm), 30 mm, Fully brilliant, and lustrous, far better than normally encountered,. Ex: Moreira collection, Superior 1988, Lot 1435.

NEAR UNC...............$5250

ETHIOPIA, HAILE SELLASIE,

Official gold coronation medal, (1928), 32mm (18.79 gm), EE 1921 F:  Facing bust of Ras Tafari wearing a ducal coronet with regal robe.  R:  Inscriptions in Amharic: "Crown Prince King Tafari of the Ethiopian Kingdom" Center: "With full authority as Ras (Prince), Maskaram 27th day EE 1921" = October 8, 1928.  Commemorates the elevation of Ras Tafari from Regent to Negus or King.  Struck at Addis Ababa. Very Sarce.

AU/UNC.........................$1800

Great Britain, George VI (1936-1952)

Coronation, official small Gold Medal, (23.34g,) 1937, by P. Metcalfe, the official Royal Mint issue, 32mm, (BHM 4314).

a few light marks, Brilliant prooflike UNC.........................$1800

VATICAN CITY, Paul VI,
Sovereign and Pope, (1963-1978)

Gold Medal 1963 marking Paul as the Pope presiding over the second session of the Second Vatican Council, after the death of John XXIII, who had convened the council in 1962. Obv signed by the artist Lallo Scorelli, Rev signed by E. Senesi

45mm (52.68gm) edge marked .750 (18 karat) fine gold. Rare.

Matte UNC............................$3200

FRANCE Premier Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, 1804-1814.

1804 Coronation of Napoleon (1.98g) 13mm. By Dennon and Jeuffroy Laureate head Denn Jeuf below Napoleon stadg on shield held by senator and soldier.

AU....................$625

France, Premier Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, 1804-1814.

1810 Marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria- 14mm (2.2g.) Conjoined busts signed by the artist Andrieu below/ Napoleon and Mary Louise standing holding hands before an altar on which a flame burns.

AU..........................$1100