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 Replies: 9 / Views: 3,119 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
I assume this medal is from Belgium because it was engraved by Hart, who also did several Belgian coins. It is made of copper, 37m.m, and weighs 19.9 grams. I believe it is original since it has a plain smooth edge, without any lettering or privy marks. It has the roman date for 1830 on the obverse, and 1832 on the reverse commemorating some sort of union or alliance between Belgium and France. That's about all I can determine. Could use some further history about it   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
731 Posts |
I guess no one else is familiar with this medal. The mystery remains.
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
Well, I know a little about the historical background but nothing about this medal. ;) In July 1830 - first date on the obverse - there was a revolution in France and then elsewhere in Europe. In France, Louis Philippe became king in a constitutional monarchy. One result of this revolutionary wave was that Belgium - until then part of the Netherlands - became an independent country. However, quite a few in France thought that the French speaking parts of the new country should be merged with France (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattachism). The lion on the medal refers to Belgium, and the rooster is a symbol of France. The motto on the other side - "ils vaincront ou périront ensemble" - means something like "they will vanquish or perish together". Not sure what happened in 1832 - as a coin collector I could add that the Belgian franc was created in that year, but that is probably not what the medal commemorates. :) But in August 1831 for example the (Northern) Netherlands tried invading Belgium. Guess the medal has something to do with that conflict ... Christian Edited by chrisild
03/14/2012 10:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
Thanks Chrisild. That is an interesting bit of history. Apparently this is one of the first medals produced for the newly created country of Belgium
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1238 Posts |
Yes, I think so too. I can offer one more theory about the "background" of this issue, by the way: In 1832 (the date in the wreath) the new Belgian king Leopold I married Louise d'Orléans, a French princess. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_of_Orléans#Marriage Not the kind of wedding medal I would want, hehe, but maybe it is one ... (PS: Sorry, the forum software won't accept the link, so copy and paste it manually.) Christian Edited by chrisild
03/15/2012 07:04 am
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Valued Member
Australia
262 Posts |
all I care about this coin is how much it worth :)
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
I am just finding this wbside , so I am a little late with my solution.This medal remenbers the defence of the citadel of Antwerp by Frenchmen (rooster) and Belgians (Lion) against the Dutch.The reference is in Guioth,Révolution Belge,p 150 , pl,XXI,nr 71.You can it download for free.Please excuse my English,I am from Antwerp en speak Dutch or French.
Albert
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
Antwerpen. Thank you for the information about the medal. Is it an official medal or a private issue? Do you know the scarcity?
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
for the facts:see wikipedia : siege of antwerp , it were the Duth who holt the citadel,I was wrong. I think it is a private issue , Guioth is mentionning 13 different medals (from CLIX-CLXXI), and for the your medal , he gives a description of the history on 8 pages. Normally is the issue not to big,maximun a 100/200 ,I think. I found no indication on internet for the price ,it seems never to be sold on ebayThe artist is Laurent Joseph Hart,1810-1860.It seems to be one of the most prolific medaillists of his time in Belgium.More on internet by his name. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Cool medal!  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 3,119 |
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Posted 03/14/2012 10:01 am
