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H
Miscellaneous Tokens and Medals
reductions of the obverse design is different sizes are placed on
the reverse from the top left corner to the middle and finally at
the bottom right corner.
Paul Bosco notes that, “ The Janvier reducing machine made it
possible to produce medals which started in larger sizes, modeled
in soft materials like wax and clay. This is, therefore, one of the
most important art medals.” Adding even more importance to
this medal is its medallist - Alexandre Louis Marie Charpentier
(1856-1909) was an important figure in the history of medallic
art. At age 23 became an assistant to the engraver Hubert
Ponscarme. He was one of the founders of “Les Cinq”, the
first group organized to promote the Art Nouveau Movement.
He won numerous awards including a Grand prize at the
1900 Paris Exposition and the French Legion of Honor. A
posthumous exhibition of his medallic work at the American
Numismatic Society International Medallic Exhibition in 1910
solidified his reputation as one of the most important figures in
medallic art firmament. “ (G)
388.
FIRST MODERN OLYMPICS PARTICIPATION MEDAL,
Lot 387
ATHENS, 1896
. Gadoury 1896-2. 50mm. Bronze. N. Lytras, Sc.
(W. Pittner). Lightly polished Very Fine with a few minor rim
nicks. Obverse with seated Victory holding wreath over Phoenix
rising from the flames. Acropolis and Parthenon Temple in the
background. The reverse contains an Olympic legend in a laurel
wreath.
The 1896 games were the first of the modern Olympics. This is
easily the most popular of the Olympic participation medals.
(G)
389.
ERECTION OF THE FIRST AMERICAN STATUE TO
HONOR GUTENBERG, 1899
70mm. Bronze. Anton Scharff,
Sc. Abou t Uncirculated. P l a i n edge . The obverse legend:
JOHANN GAENSEFLEISCH VULGO GUTENBERG in a
semi circle around a 1/2 length bust of Gutenberg to the right
wearing his printer’s hat. In 5 lines in the right field: BORN/
IN MAINZ/ GERMANY/ BETW./ 1393-400. The reverse is
dominated by the statue of a standing figure of Gutenberg
by Ralph Goddard. An inscription in 3 lines to either side of
the statue reads: THE FIRST/ AMERICAN STATUE/ OF
GUTENBERG at left. To right: ERECTED/ IN NEW YORK/
BY ROBERT HOE 1899. One of the most handsome of all the
many Gutenberg portrait medals. Our last two sales of Unc.
specimens brought $431.25 and $563.50 respectively. (G-H)
390.
COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK BELDEN
Lot 388
Lot 389 (reduced)