K-298. Die Schlacht am Birkenbaum; (The Battle at Birkenbaum), 1923, Cast Bronze, 62.4mm, UNC/Gussfrisch.

Recalling an old German Westphalian legend where as the Byzantine Emperor would establish his kingdom in Jerusalem; then hang his shield on a birch tree (Meaning Birkenbaum in German); and surrender his kingdom to God. When the Antichrist arrived, the Emperor would pick up his shield and fight the holy war and establish a new kingdom of God.

Obverse: A birch tree stands in the foreground with a broken fetter at the base; a head with clenched fists rises from the ground in the distance. Inscription; "Es kommt der Tag" (The day will come).

Reverse: A shepherd and his flock stand by a gravestone dated 1923 and looks away into the distance. A naked Walküre, on horseback, rides towards the sun. In the sky appear the words, "Zwischen Lipp'u. Ruhr-Die letzte Schlacht am Birkenbaum" (Between the Lippe and the Ruhr-The Last Battle of Birkenbaum).

For some reason this was a tough one to locate…it certainly filled a big hole in my collection though.

Just wonderful! It's hard to imagine a modern engraver packing all that imagery and story into a medal that is, after all, less than 3 inches across (massive as that is!). Thanks.

wonderful medal.

Spectacular. I appreciate your eye for quality.

Now that is high on the hog.

Another wonderful piece.