|
ISRAELI, ZIONIST & JUDAIC
• RECENT ITEMS
- Israeli Trade Coins
- Foreign Trade Coins
- Postal History & Ephemera
- Forerunners & Mandate
- Jewish & Zionist Philately
- Israeli Stamps & Philately
- World Stamps & Philately
• BANKNOTES
• ISRAELIANA & PALESTINA
- Israeli Army IDF Militaria
- Israeli Airforce & Navy
- Haganah & Palmach Militaria
- Irgun (IZL) & Lehi Militaria
- Judaic & Palestine Militaria
- Arab & World/War Militaria
- Jewish Synagogue Medals
- Jewish Institutions Medals
- Medals of Jewish Figures
- Historic Judaic Medals
- Jewish Religious Medals
- Medals by Jews/Israelis
- Jewish Charity Tokens
- Biblical Themed Medals
- Merchant Tokens & Jetons
- Anti-Semitic Exonumia
- Zionist & Related Exonumia
- Events & Exhibitions
- Schools & Youth Groups
- Sporting Organizations
• BIBLIOGRAPHY & SOURCES
Translate this Page:
|
|
Click to Enlarge |
Austria-Hungary / Habsburg Empire, Vienna; Jewish Property Ownership Ordnance medal, 1860; struck in silvered bronze(?); by Alfons Desaide-Roquelay (France), commissioned by Ch[ristian] Krauss (Budapest) and minted by Pr. Seidan (Vienna); weight: 243.7g; size: 74mm; thickness: 6mm.
Obverse depcits allegorical images of Fortuna and Genius around an altar device with emperor Franz Joseph's portrait, tablet with Hebrew inscription "One Law for All", scroll with Hebrew ["Din" misspelled] inscription "One Rule for One Nation", two-lined legend around edge: "DIE ISRAELITEN DEINES GANZEN REICHS, SIE BAUEN EINEN ALTAR IN IHREN HERZEN, | EIN EWIGES DENKMAL | IHRER DANKBARKEIT." ["The Israelites your entire nation builds an altar in your hear on their monument of eternal gratitude"], and 5-lined legend in exergue: "ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DIE, DURCH DEINE MAJESTAET | DEN KAISER FRANZ JOSEPH I. | DEN ISRAELITEN IM GANZEN OESTERREICHISCHEN | KAISERSTATE GEWAEHRT REALBESITZFAEHIGKEIT. | MDCCCLX." ["In tribute of you, through your majesty the Kaiser Franz Joseph I. The Israelites of the whole of the Austrian Empire, in the Imperial state, are granted land ownership priviliges. 1860"].
On reverse legend around edge and 25-line excerpt of the official decree: "DIE ZWEITE HAELFTE DES XIX JAHRHUNDERTS IST FÜR OESTERREICHS VOELKER, DAS DER CIVILISATION, UND DER FREIEN INDUSTRIELLEN ENTWICKELUNG." ["The second half of the 19th Century is for the Austrian peoples, civilization and freedom of industrial development"], and (partially trunctated here) "KAISERLICHE VERORDNUNG | VOM 18 FEBRUAR 1860, | WIRKSAM FÜR GALIZIEN UND DIE BUKOWINA | UND DAS GROSSHERZOGTRUM KRAKAU, BETREFFEND DEN REALBESITZ DER ISRAELITEN. | ISRAELITEN, WELCHE UNTERGYMNASIEN, UNTERREALSCHULEN, | HANDELSCHULEN, LANDWIRTHSCHAFTLICHE LEHRANSTALTEN, | FORST=BERG UND=NAUTISCHE SCHULEN ABSOLVIRT HABEN, | ODER DEN OFFICIERS=CHARACTER BEKLEIDEN, SIND IN DEN | GENANNTEN KRONLAENDERN RÜCKSICHTLICH DER BESITZFAENIGKEIT, | GLEICH DEN CHRISTLICHEN UNTERTHANEN ZU BEHANDELD. ETC:ETC:ETC: | KAISERLICHE VERORDNUNG VOM 18 FEBRUAR 1860. | IN NIEDEROESTERREICH, BOEHMEN, MAEHREN, SCHLESIEN, |
UNGARN, IN DER SERBISCHEN WOJWODSCHAFT UND IM | TEMESER BANATE, IN KROATIEN, SLAWONIEN, SIEBENBÜRGEN, | DEM KÜSTENLANDE UND DALMATIEN, SIND DIE ISRAELITEN | ZUM BESITZE UNBEWEGLICHER GÜTER BERECHTIGT. ETC:ETC:" ["Imperial regulation from 18 February 1860 effective for Galicia, Bukovina, Krakow and greater Herzogtrum concerning the ownership of property by Israelites: Jews who complete elemenatry schools, trade schools, agricultural colleges, forest and mountain and nautical schools, or have become officers will have the same rights to Crown Lands as Christian subjects, etc. Imperial regulation of 18 February 1860 in Lower Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Hungary, Serbian Vojvodina and in Temeser Banat, Croatia, Slavonia, Siebenburgen, the coastal lands and Dalmatia will the Jews be entitled to immovable property, etc."].
This medal is seldomly encountered, and when so often misdescribed as a medal of Jewish emancipation (GJPM-137): the reason the commemorated event is difficult to trace and largely undocumented is that it only commemorates an ordinance which effectively meant that the Jews of the mentioned areas could only own real estate if they had achieved a certain level of education. This was an additional legal impediment, after another restrictive land-ownership law of 1853. Under the economic circumstances of that time, this made it difficult for Jews to actually own property, and the sheer number of requests by Jews appealing this ordinance led to it being rescinded in 1864; in 1867 Jews were finally given emancipation in the Austro-Hungarian empire. Technically, this is a very cynical medal - though artistically beautiful.
In EF, with most of the original silver finish intact; there is a very subtle die-crack mark in the center of the reverse: there is also an even crack along the rim, attesting to the somewhat poor quality of the medal's manufacture. When seen, these are often in a state of surficial corrosion. Referenced in Forrer vol. 3 pg. 220.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal, thick rim of medal with crack line visible
|
Item Code: 0130602 Price: €600
|
Click to Enlarge |
Czechoslovakia: 150th Anniversary of the Patent of Toleration, 1781-1931, 1931; struck in silver; by Josef Šejnost (Czechoslovakia); size: 39.75mm; weight: 34.3g.
Obverse depicts an unidentified Chapel with Czech legend above "Na Pamĕť 150 Výročí Tolerančního Patentu" ("In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Patent of Toleration"), with dates in exergue and Seinost's name just above.
On reverse, a chalice on top of a [prayer] book, with legend below "Učinilť Jest S Námi Veliké Véci Hospodin" (roughly translated as "The Lord is With Us"). Medallic rotation with silversmith marks imprinted on rim; plain rim.
The Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II of Austria, emancipated minorities in his lands, starting in 1781, with the edict commemorated here (the "Patent of Emancipation" of October 1781), granting limited religious freedom ("private religious exercises" in clandestine Churches) to Lutherans, Calvinists and Greek Orthodox; Jews were not included in the Patent but were granted emancipation in the second Edict of Tolerance of January 1782.
Although this medal is part of a collection of Judaic medal, as in a few other instances it may have been mistakenly associated with Jewish emancipation. The religious temple depicted on the medal is likewise not of the famous Jewish "Altneuschul" (Old-New Synagogue) in Prague, and may just be an iconic image of a house of worship.
The Czech sculptor and medalist, Joseph Sejnost (1878-1941), is not well documented outside of the Czech Republic but his portfolio includes works celebrating then-contemporary figures and events, including the Czechoslovak leaders Benes and Masaryk, as well as historical events. In AU.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130974 Price: €135
|
Click to Enlarge |
France: Grand Sanhedrin medal (restrike, post-1880), 1806; struck in bronze; obverse design by DePaulis, reverse by Dupres; size: 41.5mm, weight: 36.75g.
Obverse depicts 'mature' Napoleon in uniform facing right (another restrike variant depicts a younger mythic-like image of Napoleon), with legend in French "Napoleon Emp. et Roi." ("Napoleon Emperor and King"), and DuPaulis's and mint director Denon's names below.
On reverse, image of Moses bowing before robed Napoleon who is bearing the Ten Commandments, with legend in exergue "Grand Sanhedrin XXX. Mai MDCCCVI" and designer's name Dupres at left edge. In UNC; JM-40/127, GJPM-16 and Millingen p.46 and plate XXXVI.
Medallic strike, "bronze" imprinted on rim with privy (mint) mark of "cornucopia" (a corn of abundance); Paris mint issues from 1880 to 1950 bore the cornucopia mintmark, and thereafter the mint also added the year of mintage.
The Sanhedrin medal is one of the most famous of the medals commemorating a Jewish event (albeit a dubious one): Napoleon needed Jews to help bolster the ranks of his armies, but was constrained by their Kosher dietary laws; he convened a council of the "Sanhedrin" (the ancient Jewish religious supreme court), the first in over 1500 years, and reached an agreement whereby Jews fighting in the French armies would be relieved of their dietary restrictions in exchange for religious freedom and state protection in the French empire.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130968 Price: €350
|
Click to Enlarge |
Germany: Edict of Toleration in Habsburg Empire, 1781; struck in pewter; by Johann Leonhard Oexlein (Germany), marked "OE" with dot; weight: 29.25; size: 45mm.
Obverse depicts right facing bust of Emperor Joseph II with latin legend above "Amor et Deliciae Generis Hvmani." ("Love and Delight of the Human Race").
On reverse allegorical figure of Genius to the right of a monument, with 7-line legend and legend around rim, both in Latin, "Qvid Potvit Tota Contingere Vita Laetivs | Libertas | Religionis | A Iosepho II | in Terris Svis | Protestantibvs | et Ivdaeis Data | MDCCLXXXI" ("Who Commands that All Live Fully | Religious Liberty from Joseph II in His Lands to Protestants and Jews 1781").
In VF; ANS 1910 exhibition #353, Polak-11, JM-36/124, Jahrbuch p.94, Egger #214 and Forrer vol. 4, pg. 308.
Although the Holy Roman Emperor did emancipate minorities in his lands, starting in 1781, the edict commemorated here (the "Patent of Emancipation" of October 1781) only granted [limited] religious freedom to Lutherans, Calvinists and Greek Orthodox - Jews were not included, and so this medal erroniously commemorates Jewish emancipation. The Jews were granted emancipation in the second Edict of Tolerance, of January 1782.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130593 Price: €600
|
Click to Enlarge |
Germany: Hesse-Darmstadt state; Landgravine Louise Caroline Henriette homage medal, 1790; struck in silver(?); no makers mark; weight: 10.65g; size: 34mm.
Obverse: depicts a palm tree (representing ancient Judea, as seen on ancient period pieces), with double-lined legend in German (without a period at end) "GRÜNE STETS | MIT NEÜER KRAFT | DIESES WÜNSCHT | DIE IÜDENSCHAFT" ("Always Flourish with New Power | This is the Wish of the Jewish Community").
On reverse 6-lined legend "VIVAT | LOUISE CAROLINE | HENRIETTE | LANDGRAEFIN | ZU HESS•DARMST. | 1790." ("Long Live Louise Caroline Henriette Landgraefin of Hess-Darmstadt. 1790.").
Plugged at top; partially re-engraved die variant of examples mentioned in JM-38/126 and GJPM-138: obverse is the 2-lined legend variety but on a 34mm planchet with tree design a little different than on shown examples; on reverse signs of re-engraved text, with traces of the original letters a few millimeters away from present letters - possibly explained by fact that 2-lined variety shown is on 29mm planchet, and this version may have been re-engraved for use on the original 34mm size. Friedenberg indicates that the original dies used on the 34mm piece broke after several strikings, and a second obverse die made for a 34mm planchet, followed by a third 2-lined legend obverse design for a 29mm planchet. In VF with luster.
This medal is one of two commissioned by the Jews of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1790 at the time of Landgrave Ludwig X's (later Great Duke Ludwig I) accension to the throne: he and his wife Louise Caroline (1761-1829) were tolerant liberals and each medal accorded appreciation to them separately. This medal recognized Louise Caroline for her efforts to promote religious freedom in the Princely State.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130589 Price: SOLD
|
Click to Enlarge |
Israel: First Zionist Congress 70th Anniversary / Balfour Declaration 50th Anniversary medal, 1967; struck in bronze; by the designers Duda and M. Nov for the Shekel Israel Ltd. mint; 60mm, 94.15g: with image of Knesset building on obverse and bust of Theodore Herzl on reverse. A "busy" medal whose inclusion of the Knesset building is a 3rd "anniversary" image since the building was inaugurated a year before, in 1966. In AU, with a few edge nicks.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130261 Price: €12
|
Click to Enlarge |
Israel/Great Britain: 50th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration numbered commemoration medal, 1967; struck in silver; by Jewish medalist Paul Vincze; size: 45mm; weight: 49g.
Obverse depicts bust of Arthur Balfour with Latin and Hebrew dates of commemoration below (Vincze's name is in English here). On reverse a quotation from Genesis, with Vincze's name in Hebrew in exergue. Medallic strike; thick planchet; engraved "State of Israel" in English and Hebrew on rim, along with silver markings and issue number. In EF-AU; toned rim.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130954 Price: €50
|
Click to Enlarge |
Iran: 25th Anniversary of the Shah's reign, commemorative token issued by the Committee of the Jewish Community in Iran, Rosh HaShana 1965-66; struck in silver; not maker-marked; size: 30.25mm; weight: 12.3g.
Obverse bears a Menorah with legend in Hebrew "For "25" Years of Reign by Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi Great be His Glory" and "New Years [Rosh HaShana] 5726". Reverse depicts left facing portrait of the Shah with legend in Farsi around the edge. Milled rim and edge; thick planchet.
In AU-Unc; relatively crude design (especially the Menorah).
More pictures: obverse of coin, reverse of coin
|
Item Code: 0130955 Price: €100
|
Click to Enlarge |
Iran: 25th Anniversary of the Shah's reign, commemorative token issued by the Committee of the Jewish Community in Iran, Rosh HaShana 1965-66; struck in bronze; not maker-marked; size: 29.75mm; weight: 10.4g.
Obverse bears a Menorah with legend in Hebrew "For "25" Years of Reign by Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi Great be His Glory" and "New Years [Rosh HaShana] 5726". Reverse depicts left facing portrait of the Shah with legend in Farsi around the edge. Milled rim and edge; thick planchet.
In AU-Unc, with a couple of toning spots; relatively crude design (especially the Menorah).
More pictures: obverse of coin, reverse of coin
|
Item Code: 0130956 Price: €100
|
Click to Enlarge |
Netherlands: San Remo Conference commemorative medal, 1920; cast in bronze; by C.J. van der Hoef; size: 94mm; weight: 221.95g.
Obverse depicts an allegorical Cananite of the 2nd Temple period greeting his modern (secular, socialist - with hammer) Hebrew counterpart, with certain shared characteristics in the background - wheat stalks, produce of the land, and what may be a reference to the Temple (shown as a dome cimilar to the Mosque of Omar); with Hebrew dates "3830-5680" in exergue (70 AD - 1920; 70 AD is the date of the destruction of the 2nd Jewish Temple and the symbolic conquest of ancient Israel by Rome, and 1920 was presumed to be the date of its re-establishment).
On reverse, the Hebrew word "Zion" in the center of a Star of David, surrounded by the 12 shields of the Tribes of Israel, with Biblical quotation in Hebrew around upper edge, "If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem" and Hebrew date for "22 April 1920" around the lower edge "4th of the month of Iyar 5680" (although the artist messed up the order of the year's 'digits'). Medallic strike; thin planchet; artist's initials appear on the left edge on the obverse.
The San Remo Conference (19-26 April 1920) was held in the framework of the pre-United Nations body called the "League of Nations". It gave legal force to a British-French arrangement to divide the Middle East into spheres of influence (the "Sykes-Picot" treaty of 1916), and further gave international legal force to the British 1917 Balfour Declaration which recognized the validity of establishing a Jewish State in Palestine.
At Britain's insistance the San Remo Conference gave Britain a mandate over Palestine on condition that she would enforce the Declaration and establish there a Jewish state - something which did not transpire in the end.
This medal was commissioned by the Dutch Zionist Association, and the medalist chosen, Christiaan (Chris) Johannes van der Hoef, was one of the Netherland's leading sculptors and designers during the Art Deco period; stylistically his Hebrew engraving work is superior to that of many other contemporary Jewish medalists.
The "Zion" Star of David design depicted on the reverse may be the official emblem of the World Zionist Organization for the following year's (1921) Congress meeting; this medal was awarded in Silver to the Organization's president, Chaim Weizmann, when he visited the Netherlands.
The unusual Dutch origin of this medal probably has to do popular public sentiment with the Netherland's admission to the League of Nations two months before the conference, on 19 February; the country was neutral in the First World War and stood to benefit from being part of an international body of nations. Literature about this medal indicates that the plate-medals of this large size were intended for special presentation. In AU-Unc; Polak-66 and JTM-EP13.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130935 Price: €575
|
Click to Enlarge |
Netherlands: San Remo Conference commemorative medal, 1920; brass; by Christiaan Johannes van der Hoef; size: 29.5mm x 35mm; weight: 10.85g.
A small tallion version of the original large plate medal: obverse depicts an allegorical Cananite greeting his modern Hebrew counterpart; on reverse a Star of David with "Zion" in center, surrounded by shields of the 12 Tribes of Israel, quotation "If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem" and the a Hebrew date from the period of the conference (here, as on the larger medal, with the error in the order of the digits in the Hebrew date for the year).
The literature available about this medal indicates these smaller-sized versions (in bronze) were awarded to purchasers of the World Zionist Organization's fundraising "Shekel" vouchers; but such medals bear a different reverse design, and this one is not documented in brass, so it may actually be a period commemorative piece from the time when the original medal was created. In VF; Polak-66 and JTM-EP13.
More pictures: obverse of tallion, reverse of tallion
|
Item Code: 0130936 Price: €175
|
Click to Enlarge |
Netherlands: San Remo Conference/Shekel donation token, 1923; gilded bronze; by Christiaan Johannes van der Hoef; size: 29.5mm x 36mm; weight: 11.05g.
A small tallion version of the original large plate medal: obverse depicts an allegorical Cananite greeting his modern Hebrew counterpart; on reverse an ornamental design with the word "Shekel" in Hebrew and English with the year written as a Jewish calendar date in Hebrew and English ("5683").
This variation of the original San Remo conference medal was awarded to purchasers of the World Zionist Organization's fundraising "Shekel" vouchers. In EF-AU; Polak-66 and JTM-EP13.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130937 Price: €175
|
Click to Enlarge |
United States: "Jewish Day - Century of Progress" exhibition medal, Chicago, 1933; by A. Carmi(?); struck in brass; weight: 10.9g; size: 32mm.
Obverse depicts Star of David with Hebrew date for year "5693"; artist's name lightly engraved between the swirls of the design; on reverse image of Moses bearing the Tablets descending Mount Sinai and legend in Hebrew "And Moses Descended Unto the People".
The "Jewish Day" is recorded by some observers as "the greatest Jewish spectacle ever staged in Chicago", and it took place on July 3, 1933, at Soldier Field, before more than 125,000 people. It was sponsored by the Jewish Agency for Palestine (the quasi-governmental authority of the Jewish community in Palestine), with the President of the Zionist Congress, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, specially invited as the keynote speaker.
The musical-theatrical pageant "The Romance of A People" was the culminating event of the day (which took five years to plan) which commemorated Jewish contributions to the city of Chicago since its founding in 1833. The "Jewish Day" was one of around 24 such days planned by the Fair Committee to commemorate the contributions of various nationalities which composed the city of Chicago - as the Jews identified themselves closely with Palestine, the Jewish Agency was involved in the organizations and hence the themes of the event and this token. In AU with some surface residue from coin holder.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130643 Price: €20
|
Click to Enlarge |
United States: 350th Anniversary of Jewish Life in America, 2004, numbered commemorative medal; struck in bronze; by Israeli artist Dana Krinsky; weight: 248.4g; size: 76mm; thickness: 7mm.
Obverse depicts a group of immigrants moving towards the horizon (the artist describes the lines in between as representing the American flag), with legend in English above and it's Biblical equivalent in Hebrew below.
On reverse a city skyline set against a portion of a letter written by George Washington to Newport's Jewish congregation (Touro Synagogue), and slogan of the event at base.
This is the official medal of the "Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History" (formed in 2002); numbered 679 on rim. In UNC.
More pictures: obverse of medal, reverse of medal
|
Item Code: 0130608 Price: €85
|
|
