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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Chris B, post: 3141067, member: 87179&quot;]Part of this is a duplicate of a former post but it was suggested that I start a new post on Goetz medals. Let&#039;s see what happens and please share yours.</p><p><br /></p><p>My collection of world medals increased by one a few weeks ago.&nbsp; Karl Goetz was a controversial man due to his political beliefs but his numismatic accomplishments shouldn&#039;t be over looked. In addition to his medal output, he designed a number of German coins after WWI.[ATTACH=full]802941[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This medal depicts &quot;The Bismarck Mausoleum (Bismarck Grabhaus)&quot;, Cast Bronze Medal, 356.00g., 105mm, by Karl Goetz, 1919. As you can see it is a big medal measuring over 4&quot; in diameter.</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: Bismarck in the heavens, defiantly clenching his fists with clouds swirling around him.</p><p><br /></p><p>Legend: Was ich mit Hulfe des deutschen Volkes schuf in grosser Zeit - das hat der Wahn eines einzelnen zerstort • Das deutsche Volk hat sich durtch Unterzeichnung des Friedens von Versailles selbst aus der Reihe der Grossmächte gestrichen • War es fruher gehasst.so wird es jetzt mit Recht verachtet • Es muss sich sogarselbst verachten bis diese Schmach mit dem Blute unserer Feinde abgewaschen wird?&quot; (What I created with the help of the German people over a long period of time - which has been destroyed by the delusion of a single individual. The German people have struck themselves from the list of great powers by subscribing to the Peace of Versailles. It (Germany) was formerly hated, it is now justifiably despised. It must, therefore, despise itself so much until this disgrace will be cleansed with the blood of our enemies).</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: Bismarck&#039;s burial place in the Saxon Forest.</p><p><br /></p><p>Legend: &quot;Deutschlands Ehre, Grosse und Gluck begraben im Sachsenwalde&quot; (Germany&#039;s Honor, Greatness and Good Fortune lie buried in the Saxon Forest).</p><p><br /></p><p>Dated: April 1, 1899, (Kienast 230)</p><p><br /></p><p>Bismarck died in 1898 when the German empire he was instrumental in founding was still an ascendant power. This medal struck in the climate of despair and national shame following Germany&#039;s defeat in the Great War depicts a Bismarck angered by the failure of the German people, scolding them from the grave.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]802942[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]802943[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Above is the &quot;Sinking of the Lusitania&quot; medal in the wrong date variety. It actually sank on the 7th. Geotz fixed this for later castings. This is a 57mm cast iron example. Kienast 156.RMS Lusitania was launched by the Cunard Line in 1906, at a time of fierce competition for the North Atlantic trade. In 1915, during the first World War, she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat off the coast of Ireland. Of the 1,962 passengers and crew aboard Lusitania at the time of the sinking, 1,191 of the people aboard the ship lost their lives on that afternoon of May 7, 1915. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany and contributed to the American entry into the War. </p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: The Lusitania slipping beneath the waves stern first (opposite to what really happened) and with obvious war contraband on her deck: cannon, warplanes, armaments.</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse Legend Translation: The liner Lusitania sunk by a German submarine May 5, 1915. </p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: A skeleton (representing death) sells passage at the Cunard Line ticket office.</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse Legend Translation: Business Above All</p><p><br /></p><p>Karl Goetz privately struck a run of medals as a satirical attack on the Cunard Line for trying to continue business as usual during wartime. Goetz blamed both the British government and the Cunard Line for allowing the Lusitania to sail despite the German embassy warnings that it was unsafe to do so. One side of the medal shows the gun-laden Lusitania sinking, with the motto &quot;KEINE BANNWARE!&quot; (&quot;NO CONTRABAND!&quot;), while the reverse shows a skeleton selling Cunard tickets with the motto &quot;Geschäft Über Alles&quot; (&quot;Business Above All&quot;). Goetz had put an incorrect date for the sinking on the medal: instead of 7 May he had put 5 May - two days before the actual sinking. Not realizing his error, Goetz made copies of the medal and sold them in Munich and also to some numismatic dealers with whom he conducted business. The Goetz medal attracted so much attention that the British Lord Newton, who was in charge of Propaganda at the Foreign Office in 1916, decided to develop the anti-German feelings aroused by it for propaganda purposes, and arranged for the medal to be reproduced. The so-called British replica medals were sold for a shilling apiece and came with a propaganda leaflet which strongly denounced the Germans and used the medal&#039;s incorrect date (5 May) to claim that the sinking of the Lusitania was premeditated, rather than just being incident to Germany&#039;s larger plan to sink any ship in a combat zone without warning. Proceeds from the sale of the medals benefited blinded soldiers and sailors. This is one of the British reproductions. The accompanying paperwork indicates that this medal was issued by the Lusitania Souvenir Medal Committee of Manchester Square.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH]802945[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]802944[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Goetz created patterns for most German coin denominations in circulation after WWI and these are widely collected. Above is a pattern 2 Mark. </p><p><br /></p><p>Gunter Keinast wrote the standard reference book on Karl Goetz medals and typically they are described using his numbering system.</p><p><br /></p><p>With the number of people that collect Goetz medals, I&#039;m sure there are more that can be posted. So let&#039;s see them. Hopefully, the subject matter of some of these medals doesn&#039;t violate any CT rules.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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