GOETZ: K483var (an attempt to slap Hitler)
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K 483var. REICH CHANCELLOR ADOLPH HITLER, Obverse Master Reduction Model, 1933, Iron uniface, 109.2mm tondo, AU, RRRR.
Hitler Civil bust, right, swastika in left field, Pearled border, Legend: REICHSKANZLER AD. HITLER.
This cast is of the highest rarity and importance in the Goetz corpus.
Contrary to the ‘innocent’ stance stated by Goetz below, it is a safe assumption that Goetz was probably guilty of the ‘impertinence’ accusation made by the Nazi leaders. He tried to push their buttons but was caught.
Karl Goetz’ own explanation of the medal:
There came the day of the take-over of power on the 30th of January, 1933. My publisher, Hans Nantz of Berlin-Nikolassee of Bock and Com-pany, called me the very same day and asked whether I had already made an Adolf Hitler medal. My answer was negative, and I also mentioned that I did not intend to engage in such a medal. He asked me whether I was of a different political view. I let him know subtly, although it was on the telephone, how I thought about it and declined categorically to make such a medal. The next day came another phone call. I evaded the issue by stating that I had no picture to work from. Further, I stated, I had never yet seen the new Chancellor face to face. "If you do not want to make the Hitler medal, there are many others who are anxious to do this work," was his prompt reply. But it did not stop at this. The very next day I received a special delivery letter with pictures of Hitler, and the friendly request to submit to the signs of the times and make the medal, since the collecting world in Germany wanted a medal of Hitler made only by me.
Because of my pleasant relationship of many years with Nantz, I let myself be persuaded to make the first Hitler medal. (opus 484) [Author' s note: Goetz apparently overlooked opus 483 when he wrote this. Opus 483 was made by him in March of 1933 with an image of Hitler on the obverse, not a very flattering picture of him at that].
For the reverse [of opus 484] I used the decree of Hindenburg of May 5th, 1933, after which both flags, the old as well as the new, were rightful emblems of the German Reich and existed side by side. It appealed to my sense of justice that the swastika should not triumph easily over the old honorable flag of the black, white and red colors. On the obverse I used the inscription: REICHSKANZLER AD. HITLER. This was a big blunder which I committed: [AD in German (properly shown as a.D.) is used against a military rank or official position if retired as ausser Diensten (out-of-service) - for example: Hauptmann a.D.means Captain (Ret)] The connotation was given that it could be inter-preted as Chancellor of the Reich, retired (a.D.) whereas the medal intended to show the abbreviation of the first name Adolf as AD. in capital letters.
The medal was already minted by the Government mint of Berlin when the adjutant of Hitler appeared and ordered the immediate stop of the striking.1
From the Brown House in Munich (the Nazi party headquarters for all of Germany - Das Braune Haus - ,) I received a most insulting tele-phone call. At the beginning of the conversation the caller had asked me whether I was a party member. When I said no, I was showered with insults of various degrees. Should I dare to put this medal on the market, they would take care of me. The facial expression of Hitler, I was in-formed, also was much too pugnacious. The fate of this piece, and the following one, was determined by this call.
1, The opus 484 was later re-used for the medal described in the following paragraphs as Hindenburg-Papen-Hitler.
Final Production medal after alterations by Goetz:
Hitler Civil bust, right, swastika in left field, Pearled border, Legend: REICHSKANZLER AD. HITLER.
This cast is of the highest rarity and importance in the Goetz corpus.
Contrary to the ‘innocent’ stance stated by Goetz below, it is a safe assumption that Goetz was probably guilty of the ‘impertinence’ accusation made by the Nazi leaders. He tried to push their buttons but was caught.
Karl Goetz’ own explanation of the medal:
There came the day of the take-over of power on the 30th of January, 1933. My publisher, Hans Nantz of Berlin-Nikolassee of Bock and Com-pany, called me the very same day and asked whether I had already made an Adolf Hitler medal. My answer was negative, and I also mentioned that I did not intend to engage in such a medal. He asked me whether I was of a different political view. I let him know subtly, although it was on the telephone, how I thought about it and declined categorically to make such a medal. The next day came another phone call. I evaded the issue by stating that I had no picture to work from. Further, I stated, I had never yet seen the new Chancellor face to face. "If you do not want to make the Hitler medal, there are many others who are anxious to do this work," was his prompt reply. But it did not stop at this. The very next day I received a special delivery letter with pictures of Hitler, and the friendly request to submit to the signs of the times and make the medal, since the collecting world in Germany wanted a medal of Hitler made only by me.
Because of my pleasant relationship of many years with Nantz, I let myself be persuaded to make the first Hitler medal. (opus 484) [Author' s note: Goetz apparently overlooked opus 483 when he wrote this. Opus 483 was made by him in March of 1933 with an image of Hitler on the obverse, not a very flattering picture of him at that].
For the reverse [of opus 484] I used the decree of Hindenburg of May 5th, 1933, after which both flags, the old as well as the new, were rightful emblems of the German Reich and existed side by side. It appealed to my sense of justice that the swastika should not triumph easily over the old honorable flag of the black, white and red colors. On the obverse I used the inscription: REICHSKANZLER AD. HITLER. This was a big blunder which I committed: [AD in German (properly shown as a.D.) is used against a military rank or official position if retired as ausser Diensten (out-of-service) - for example: Hauptmann a.D.means Captain (Ret)] The connotation was given that it could be inter-preted as Chancellor of the Reich, retired (a.D.) whereas the medal intended to show the abbreviation of the first name Adolf as AD. in capital letters.
The medal was already minted by the Government mint of Berlin when the adjutant of Hitler appeared and ordered the immediate stop of the striking.1
From the Brown House in Munich (the Nazi party headquarters for all of Germany - Das Braune Haus - ,) I received a most insulting tele-phone call. At the beginning of the conversation the caller had asked me whether I was a party member. When I said no, I was showered with insults of various degrees. Should I dare to put this medal on the market, they would take care of me. The facial expression of Hitler, I was in-formed, also was much too pugnacious. The fate of this piece, and the following one, was determined by this call.
1, The opus 484 was later re-used for the medal described in the following paragraphs as Hindenburg-Papen-Hitler.
Final Production medal after alterations by Goetz:
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Comments
Shep
I wonder if Goetz was making a political statement in his choice of font? Instead of the ancient and German-traditional Fraktur ("Gothic") typeface, which the Nazis glorified as a patriotic, nationalistic font, he used something closer to a Bauhaus Neue Typographie, approaching a sans-serif form, which the Nazi establishment condemned as "anti-Aryan."
He intended to slap Hitler for sure. Why should one abbreviate the first name with the first two letters AD when usually only one letter is used to abbreviate. Plus everybody knew what a.D. stands for in Germany.
I don't think that Goetz made a political statement by using an other font than Fraktur. During the Weimar Republic "Gothic" letters were only seen on the 50Pfennig Aluminium coins (1919-1922) and on one commem, 3 Mark 1930 Vogelweide. Others like Westfalen coins were NCLT's.
The then Reichskunstwart Edwin Redslob, who's office was responsible for the design of new coins, declined the use of Fraktur characters on coins because of their descenders as well as many designers' did.
However the usage of Fraktur letters on Nazi coins after Redslob's deposition wasn't stoppable. But they even planned to return to Latin letters because nobody was able to read them in the occupied areas, but then the they put back the intention up to the ultimate victory which never happened.
One comment- for being one of the most powerful and infamous figures in relatively recent history, Hitler did not have a big presence on German coins. Why do you think that is? Most of history's dictators and megalomaniacs are certainly well-represented on world coinage.
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
<< <i>
One comment- for being one of the most powerful and infamous figures in relatively recent history, Hitler did not have a big presence on German coins. Why do you think that is? Most of history's dictators and megalomaniacs are certainly well-represented on world coinage. >>
Laurent:
In fact there was no presence. Hitler just had no interest in beeing shown on coins at first. Whenever you come across a coin with Hitler on it, it is likely a private made pattern.
Actually it was planned to issue coins with hitler's portrait.
In 1941 artists were asked to design new 2 and 5 Mark coins with the portrait of hitler. 13 designs for 5 Mark coins and 7 designs for 2 Mark coins were received. The design of Mr. Müller-Erfurt from Berlin was accepted.
In 1943 a pattern was presented to hitler in the great headquarter.
But hitler himself decided that coins with his portrait should not be issued until the "Endsieg", the ultimate victory. So they never were issued. biene
You might want to take another read of this thread.
karlgoetzmedals.com
secessionistmedals.com
Somewhat surprising, given the quantity of German stamps with Hitlers visage on them.
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato