German medal question

Blackhawk

Sorry about the lack of photos to go along with this inquiry, it will be a few days until I get my camera back in business. I tried to find an example on the web with a search, but had no luck.

I have a small silver medal (slightly larger than a US quarter) from Bavaria, I believe. The obverse features a bearded bust surrounded by the words LUITPOLD PRINZREGENT VON BAYERN. The reverse features a wreath of stems of small flowers crossed at the bottom with the words 12 MAERZ 1901 inside the wreath. There are two small letters beneath the bottom of the wreath...maybe A.B. The medal is nicely done and looks a lot like the German States coins of that time.

Does anyone have any idea on this

lordmarcovan

There was a young Prince Luitpold of Bavaria born some time in 1901, I believe (I think he died in 1914). But that doesn't gibe with a bearded bust, so it must be an older Luitpold. Certainly it's a Bavarian medal.

spoon

Otto was king of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. But in 1911 a coin was issued in all major denoms for the 90th birthday of the Prince-regent Luitpold--this is the bearded guy, ref KM518. Being Prince-regent he was essentially the de facto and de jure ruler of Bavaria. He got this position because both Ludwig II and Otto I were friggin insane!

So.. for the medal.. I can't help too much but here's a bit more info: 12 March was Luitpold's birthday. 1901 would have been his 80th birthday. It seems natural that there were celebrations across the land. A quick googling shows that there were a few memorials of different types made on the occasion, so this likely goes along with one of those celebrations.

spoon

Hey! I think I found your medal



It's being offered on the Muenzauktion site by Manfred Olding (a quite respectable dealer) for €115 in AU!

He says it's rare (sehr selten). Designed by A. Börsch(?), catalogued as Gebhardt 8 (probably a specialist catalog), 25.5mm (fits your description), 6.99g.

That's a really cool portrait!

spoon

OK, "AB" is the designer = Alois Börsch.

The (Karl) Gebhardt reference is a catalog focusing specifically on this medallist = Alois Börsch. Königlich Bayerischer Münz- und Hofmedailleur, 1855–1923. Medaillenkreis der Bayerischen Numismatischen Gesellschaft e.V./Staatliche Münzsammlung München. München 1998.

If you can manage a bit of German I guarantee you'll get more info (mintage, price, etc) from this forum: http://www.numismatikforum.de/

spoon

While I'm at it, here are two other medals from Luitpold's 80th birthday:

Blackhawk

Spoon, that's the medal...complete with the die crack on the reverse from the flower to the A. Thanks for all the help! My coin has a bit more wear...I'd say it's a XF (AU in the US, LOL). If anyone has an interest in it, I'd be glad to entertain an offer.