Medals are so cool...

coinpictures

Every now and then I just can't resist the allure of medals. They're coin-ish tend to have great relif, and show a myriad of subjects.

Picked up a few on Fleabay tonight. Couldn't resist a German military medal from 1885 (hey, it's part of my heritage!), and then saw an interesting pair of early 19th century silver French medals with matching insect themes.

-Dan

cladking

I really like those second two. Any idea what they are?

Lynch

The insect on the French medals is an ant.

The Latin motto "Vade ad formicam" has its origins in the Book of Proverbs "Vade ad formicam, o piger, et considera viaseius et disce sapientiam." ("Go to the ant, you sluggard and consider its ways and learn wisdom.")

They appear to have been issued by (or for) a bank in Lyon which was founded in 1822.

The decagonal piece appears to be the work of one of the Barre family of medallists, probably Albert Barre (1818-78).

I cannot read the signature below the arms on the round piece.

I have no idea what "Prov. Cap. VI. V. VI." means.

Preussen

Nice Medals Of course, my favorite is the Kaiser Wilhelm/Prussian one - -Preussen

cladking

Thanks Lynch.

Lynch

<< <i>Thanks Lynch. >>



Yer welcome.

coinpictures

<< <i>Nice Medals Of course, my favorite is the Kaiser Wilhelm/Prussian one - -Preussen >>



Who'd have guessed?

There's boatloads of gorgeous 18th- and 19th-century medals that pass through Ebay. I wish I could afford to buy them all. The better looking ones seem to wind up in the $75-250 range though, which is just too rich for my blood, since I really have no idea what, if anything, the medals are worth. For now I'll just admire the big-ticket items from afar and stick with the sub-$50 material. In that price range, I can at least somewhat justify the purchase solely on an artistic basis.

I found the pictures from a few years back of one of my favorite acquisitions, a Danish medal:

-Dan

Danegeld

Here is a more contemporary one. An Areal Achievement Medal.

lordmarcovan

Those ants are really neat!

rhound1977

Makarovii

Like Danegeld, I'm partial to more modern medals.

Danegeld

<< <i>Like Danegeld, I'm partial to more modern medals.




>>



Makarovii,

Those are really cool. I have some Soviet Sport pins our translator gave me in exchange for US Military (Rank, Insignia, etc.) when I was in Kosovo. When we get back from church, I'll try to find them and get some pics.

Regards
Ben

Danegeld

We're back and here are the pins along with a neat little 2004 (1 Cent) Euro I got in change yesterday. I thought I had more but I think my daughter used some of them for a "Pen Pal" project

Take Care
Ben