Does anybody on this site collect, or have any interest in, commemorative medals? (I hope it's not improper to discuss the subject here.) Like the rest of you, I'm a coin collector, but I've been casting flirtatious glances over at the medals. They generally honor some prominent person, such as a general, statesman, or artist. I believe the art form originated during the Italian Renaissance. Most medals I've seen are done in brass, but some are in silver. The brass examples provide a striking contrast with silver. A collection having both would be ideal. Some of us coin collectors have this sensual thing about coins--we like to look at them and even feel them. Try a medal. It's done in high relief. I mean that face is just sticking out there from the surface of the medal. You can run your thumb over it and feel every contour--bump, bump, bump. I've done this at antique fairs. The only medal I own is a harmless .999 fine silver Columbus. If anybody on the site has an interest in, or knowldge of, commemorative medals, and it's not forbidden by the rules, please tell us what you know. Thank you very much.
I buy the odd medal here and there...just bought a medal with John Quincy Adams on it... I think its just a private issued presidential bronze medal series but it caught my eye...I have a handfull like this, I also just bought a vatican medallion but havent photographed it yet. Probably got 10 or 20 medals though its not my emphasis.
Medals are part of the numismatic field known as "exonumia". Feel free to discuss (and show) them, especially here in Coin Chat. :thumb:.
I collect Coronation Medals along with Minature Millitry Medals & full size Vicyory / Peace Medals of WWI I also have a number of UN medals LOL Ihe Vicyory / Peace Medals of WWI I try to get if they are named to a family name. De Orc
Gunsmoke, I'll pick them up under three conditions: 1:If they're relatively old...100years+ 2:They are of reasonable historical significance. 3:They are minted by or under authority of a government or state. These are just my preferences and if I had a bigger house,I might go for more modern stuff. Here are two that qualify:
Nice one Ben! The quote on the reverse is interesting because I always thought the "stands like a stone wall" referred only to Gen.Thomas Jackson at the battle of Manassas...I wonder who borrowed from whom?dd: <Jackson vs. Jackson>
yes and thanks... nice medals posted BTW, most of the older and nicer medals that catch my eye end up going higher than I can afford...
Yeh love Bens lot :thumb: Here is a link to a few more that I have online http://pics.livejournal.com/iceorcuk/gallery/0000d6sx De Orc
WOW Steve, you have some choice pieces there. Thanks for posting the link with pictures Take Care Ben
LOL I still have around a hundred + to scan and put up, from Minitures (Some modern, some older) to French Mill & Civilian, German Orders (Repros) German< Serbian, Hungarian, Rumanian, Austian WWI, GB Mill More Royalty LOL some Police & Red Cross and others De Orc Oh and of course my UN collection
I have a passive interest in medals. Most of the ones I have are of Lincoln or Washington, the others are pretty much pre-1900, but if one catches my eye I will go after it.
