You know what Medals are; awards, commemorations of a deed, event, person or place. They usually have a design on only one side, but some are two-sided. Shapes are round, square and diamond. Some may bear a date, but most do not. Those of Dessau issued during its Pre Empire existence are a joy to behold. Medals can be ornaments, rewards, honors, bracteates, jewelry or even plaques. They may be composed of brass (Brassmedaille), bronze (Bronzemedaille), copper (Cupromedaille), gold (Guldmedaille), or silver (Silbermedaille). All images courtesy of Coin Archives. This Medal created in 1829 under Duke Leopold Friedrich (1817-1871) is composed of bronze. Coin Archives photo: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1013515&AucID=934&Lot=1131&Val=f190e9b01ed0266a8f05918154012d98 Way back in 1729 this silver Medal was produced. It bears the bust of Duke Johanna von Anhalt-Dessau (1729-1750) on the obverse and honors others on the reverse. Coin Archives image: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=941322&AucID=697&Lot=2762&Val=4d241f08ef3eb56422e7d6d4362facb7 This 2-sided bronze Medal was issued in 1836. How do you like this reverse? Coin Archives photo: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=964244&AucID=714&Lot=987&Val=08872ff7d39f90d99d3456ab6ad22887 This bronze Medal, made in 1843 features the busts of King Friederike and Princess Maria Anna von Preußen: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=964246&AucID=714&Lot=989&Val=0b8c136ea7ab3e6ab96819760151aa46 Two years later (1845) this bronze Medal was produced: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=964247&AucID=714&Lot=990&Val=db3647f260c59274ff3462ab8fd2afe8 In 1801 Leopold Friedrich Franz authorized the creation of this bronze Medal: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1026421&AucID=944&Lot=3240&Val=20024d4261d3067d0f468305f40d7706 Sometimes a very novel collectible comes along worthy of note. Such a collectible is this three-sided 81mm by 93mm Bronze Medal. It's a diamond-shaped plaquette struck in 1928 bearing three Medallions featuring the busts of Köhl, Hünefeld und Fitzmaurice on its obverse. Its reverse is blank: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=939011&AucID=696&Lot=1311&Val=57e8bbae462206863273e7ccd7cf68c9 Did you like that Medal? Wouldn't any one of those seven Medals improve your collection? Clinker
Yes, that "bridge" medal would be nice to have, Clinker. While I don't collect medals, they sure are interesting, also because coins and medals are often designed by the same artists. The first medal in your post honors Samuel Hahnemann, the "founder" of homeopathy. The "similia similibus" motto is one of the basic homeopathic principles. The medal showing the bridge is a great combination of "realistic" elements (e.g. the river goddess) and an almost abstract depiction of the river/bridge scene. No sun, clouds or anything like that above the bridge. By the way, that bridge crossed the Elbe river north of Dessau (which today is part of the city of Dessau-Roßlau, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt). For many years it was used as a combined road and rail bridge. Later it got replaced by a rail bridge, a little further west, and a road bridge further east ... Christian
