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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,028 |
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
I saw this medal today and I cannot find too much information, but I think it's an early 20th century chamber of commerce medal. It's 47mm and stunning looking. I took these photos off the shop's website because I did not take these out of the case today. If anyone has any additional information I would, of course, appreciate it. But ... What were these for? Alessandria is relatively large town for Italy, but it isn't Rome, Florence, Naples, or even turino or elsewhere... Why such stunning medals?   |
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Pillar of the Community
 Sweden
2124 Posts |
It is quite stunning, a beautiful piece. From the style it looks like around 1900 is a probable time frame. Without knowing the particulars about this medal, I would say it was used by the Alessandria Chamber of Commerce for reward and recognition to people doing something for the chamber, or something the chamber wanted to support. Maybe handed out at fairs, given to prominent merchants, etc. The receiver's name and deeds could be engraved in the free space on the reverse. That is how similar medals from other countries were used (and probably still are in places).
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
@era or @roma, can either of you speculate on the six heraldry shields on the reverse? Perhaps they represent Alessandria plus five surrounding cities?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 Italy
1130 Posts |
I have to imagine six historic family or provincial crests. ... There are two of these at the shop; both un-engraved, but priced at 100 euro each. I have seen three examples online and none are engraved. I am not interested at 100 euro a piece, but they are very attractive.
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
2124 Posts |
The top shield looks like it could be for Alessandria. The other five I don't know, doesn't seem to be for the neighboring cities - family crests is a good guess.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
Quote:
Why such stunning medals? Because art is important in Italy. Italian coins are wonderful works of art. I think that people would expect this kind of quality even in a smaller city. |
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
@oriole, living in Rome I can certainly agree with that; this just feels wonderfully over done for a chamber of commerce medal.
Any thoughts on the price at 100€?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
@Roma, the medal market is quite different than the coin market. The demand is very low for most medals, unless the place or event is considered important, or unless the medal is being sold in the city it relates to.
At my local coin shop, I can usually get silver medals for close to the value of the silver, because there is little local interest. So 100 Euro is way more than I would pay, but I have no idea what the market value would be.
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
@oriole. Intuitively, I kind of came to that conclusion. I'd be comfortable at about double silver price for that medal... I thought 100 was too high. It is a very beautiful medal, but 100% premium over silver price is about how stunning I believe it is.
I would not be surprised if they went for that price though. I have found that Italian collectors are very strong buyers for Italian items.
The only medals I have seen from Italy (ok, Vatican) are papal annual medals.
Thanks for confirming my intuition.
Edited by Roma2021
02/09/2022 10:59 am
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,028 |
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Posted 02/08/2022 8:56 pm
