constanius

I was too polite to mention that, as I did not want to cause any embarrassment to anyone. Sorry, I noticed that you don't mention poppies...........!

From the Roman Goddess Ceres by Barbette Stanley Spaeth. ' Vergil calls the flower "the poppy of Ceres" cereale papaver. The poppies on the Ara Pacis relief are those of the opium poppy, papaver somniferum........... The opium that the plant produces connects it with sleep and death, and hence refers to her (Ceres) liminal aspect

Rereading the article it does say "figure" not head but it could still have been Ceres and her head from that medal that was the pattern for the iconic concorde head. Perhaps some one will have the design that won in 1840 or if a medal was actually produced. For such an iconic symbol of republican Franch there is not much info available on its origins (perhaps the info has been deliberately supressed, if it was designed pre-revolution?). I also notice that in descriptions of the head, all mention of the opium poppies is missing.

Exposition Universelle Paris 1878. Obv. by OUDINE. Rev. Palais Du Champ De Mars. by LAGRANGE. 51mm Bronze original strike. The head of Ceres with "Concord" head band. Designed by Eugene Andre Oudine (1810-89) who worked for the Paris Mint. Used in french coins (not my coin) Does this article refer to Oudines Ceres Head? Engravers and their connection with the mint in the nineteenth century. Written by Jean Belaubre, published in Bulletin 34 (1972) of the Club Français de la Médaille, and translated by David Block. THE CONSULTING COMMITTEE OF ENGRAVERS. "Never the less, on 13 June 1840 the committee determined "that there are no more urgent reproductions to be made"; it "thinks that part of the available funds might be spent on making new dies and punches here-in-after to be designated", a head of Hippocrates (50 mm) and a figure with attributes related to agricultural societies (50 mm). Eugene Dubois received two thousand francs for the first; Oudine twenty five hundred for the second. After having submitted their designs for criticism each artist engraved a punch and two dies for his subject. They still weren't through with prize medals" Thanks due to elverno for his Napoleonic website, for the article.

Very interesting comment and supposition The Gallic rooster (French: le coq gaulois) In Roman times, 2000 years ago, France was known as Gaul. The Latin word "Gallus" not only meant "a person who lives in Gaul" but also was the word for "rooster". The Romans liked this joke, and over a period of time, this play on words meant that the rooster came to represent the Gauls. Napoleon introduced the symbol of the eagle to replace the rooster, since he felt it was more "important" and kingly. Although they were presented with Regimental Colours, the regiments of Napoleon I tended to carry at their head the Imperial Eagle. This was the bronze sculpture of an eagle weighing 1.85 kg, mounted on top of the blue regimental flagpole. They were made from six separately cast pieces designed along Roman lines and, when assembled, measured 310 mm in height and 255 mm in width. On the base would be the regiment's number or, in the case of the Guard, Garde Impériale. The Eagle bore the same significance to French Imperial regiments as the colours did to British regiments - to lose the Eagle would bring shame to the regiment, who had pledged to defend it to the death. Napoleon III, was Emperor of the French (1852-1870) when the Crimean War was fought and the French Imperial Eagle still outshone le coq which had to wait till later in the century to regain its place as the National Emblem. "While the Imperial eagle floats in lofty air and the bird of prey of Russia is obliged to hide its head, One thinks that an eagle is an eagle, whether it be in France or in Russia. This is, however, a *mistake, and an English journalist has taught us a lesson in ornithology. All depends on the company which he flies in :-if it goes a-hunting with the British lion, it is an Imperial eagle of lofty flight; but if it be hoovering alone, over a chronic " sick man," it is a vile bird of prey. It is a pity that the have also told us what sort of a bird the Austrian double-headed eagle is" It seems that the eagle on the medal only represents France.

Thanks for your interesting questions. The First Transcontinental Telegraph System Was Completed October 24, 1861 The Pony Express, established a year before the beginning of the American Civil War, reflected the need to provide fast and reliable communication with the West. In 1845, it took President James K. Polk six months to deliver a message to the Far West. Messages in those days had to travel around the tip of South America or across the isthmus of Panama. By 1860, the fastest route was the Butterfield Stage line from St. Louis, Missouri, through El Paso, Texas, which took 25 days. It was almost 600 miles (950 km) shorter to deliver the mail over a central or northern route. There were concerns, however, whether these alternatives were viable during the winter snows. September 8.1855 The French take the Malakoff. The English are repulsed from the Redan. In the night of this day the Russians evacuate the south side of Sebastopol after sinking their ships and blowing up all the defences of the place. 1855 September 10th England: Thanksgiving in all the churches of the Establishment for the fall of Sebastopol. News took a long time to cross the ocean as well. The transatlantic cable bridged the ocean between North America and Europe after 1855, it expedited communication between the two. Whereas it would normally take at least ten days to deliver a message by ship, it now took a matter of minutes by telegraph. A good story of racing to beat the news Remme's Great Ride A PRELIMINARY treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain was concluded at Versailles, January 23, 1783; the news reached Philadelphia March 23 By 1855 it was estimated some 10,000 French people resided in San Francisco, including French Canadians. Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany requested Father Blaive come to San Francisco and minister to the Citys growing French community. Father Blaives opportunity to build a French church in the City arrived that same year, following the French military victory, defeating the Russians, in the Crimean War at Sebastopol. A great victory celebration took place on Nov. 26, 1855, only 2 and a half months later. in South Park (between Second and Third Streets) where Father Blaive gave a rousing speech, pledging to build a church in honor of Notre Dame des Victoires. This medal might have been part of the fund-raising for the church. Obviously it took awhile to organize the party as well. An Italian connection: Ghirardelli the chocolate maker, was a visibly successful Italian in San Francisco, but not the only one. Nicola Larco, (26) also a founding partner of Buenaventura, was another. The two men became San Francisco's pro-forma Italian VIPs, serving in 1855 as delegates to a local celebration of a Crimean War victory that their compatriots in Piedmont-Sardinia helped win against Russia with the armies of France, England and Turkey.

1855 26th November. San Francisco was celebrating, in South Park, the defeat of the Russians at Sebastopol in the Crimean War. The French eagle savages the Russian double-headed eagle. . The British lion tramples the Russian flag (a pair of feet protude from under it). MANIFESTATION EN L'HONNEUR DES SUCCES DES ALLIES EN CRIMEE. MANIFESTATION IN HONOR OF THE SUCCESS OF THE ALLIES IN THE CRIMEA. EXERGUE; SAN FRANCISCO/26 NOVEMBER/1855 By V & G 33mm W.M I know that technically I am in the wrong forum as you are coin people. But I thought you might be interested to see this medal because of the Russian San Fran connection. Appears to be very rare, this actual medal has been shown in the Russian Numismatic Society Journal and Newsletter. Any comments welcomed

An easy way to reduce the size is to email the picture to yourself, selecting the quality to suit your needs. Or join Photobucket (it is free) and have really large pics.

Wonderful..............! How are things in London? I was born in Enfield Middx. As to the Thistle, I have a giant one in my garden and I can vouch for the truth in both mottoes. I think I prefer the English Rose, even with its thorns, to my mind far prettier. I should add for, my own safety, I love all things Scottish.

Many thanks for the info especially about the booklet by Alpert, but I did make clear it was struck in 1948 for an event to celebrate the 1898 expansion: "1948 New York City Golden Anniversary Medal for the expansion of New York in 1898". Obviously it could not have been struck in 1898 for an event that took place 50 years later.

Fantastic design. Nice collection.

1898 to 1948 New York City Golden Anniversary Medal for the expansion of New York in 1898. 77mm bronze. 2 small cracks. Is this a common medal? Could not find the medal on the web. Found some info on the celebrations: The New York City Golden Jubilee, held in 1948, was a multi-tiered, months-long commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the consolidation of the five boroughs of Greater New York (that was a controversial measure that expanded New York City from some 60 sq. miles to over 300 sq. miles in 1898). Its focal point was an exposition held at the Grand Central Palace, a pre-Coliseum trade show hall near Grand Central Station. The exposition mostly featured displays by various municipal agencies. Its biggest draw, however, was an exhibit entitled “Man and the Atom” which raved about the supposed cure-all that was atomic energy. The celebration also featured a parade down Fifth Avenue in June and an international air show in July.

Thanks for all the info Elverno. I am very pleased that it is by Pingo.

Thanks, that was super quick! On my medal it just looks like a bowl!

Has anyone seen this medal before? It is unsigned 40mm gilt bronze. FELICITAS BRITANNIAE = Good fortune (or happy) Britain. INEUNTE REGNO = At the begining of the Reign. It is for the accession of George III October 25th 1760. Portrait looks similar to Pingo's accession medal PINGO'S MEDAL, but nose is shaped more like Kirk's KIRK'S MEDAL. The reverse has a lion with it's paw on a fleur-de-lis and Britannia holding a spear/pole(?) standing on a fleur-de-lis with cornucopea, trident, anchor, cannon & shield. Any guesses as to what the object is on the spear/pole she is holding?

I have also managed to find a nicer example of George II Sentimental token: GEORGE THE SECOND ND. Circa 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. I am pleased to have completed the set, but if anyone has a gold or silver one, as mentioned in the Bath Journal 1773 "Those Persons who are desirous of having any of the Medals given in the Course of this Work, struck in Gold, Silver, &c. may, by applying to the Publisher, be supplied with them on the most reasonable Terms" None have ever been recorded, but we live in hope.

DUCHESS of CUMBERLAND ND. Circa 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. Well here she is, the last one to complete the set. I assume that her husband, the Duke would have been in the set if it had not ended. It seems that whoever was selecting the subjects for the tokens to be given away with the magazine had liberal if not radical tendencies: Apart from George II, George III, Queen Charlotte, David Garrick the actor and the Marquis of Grandby, the others, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloster(sic), and the Duchess of Cumberland were not in favour with the Court and Establishment. When Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, brother of George III annouced his marriage in 1771 to a Mrs Horton George III promptly banished him from Court and, determined to uphold the dignity of the Crown, had the Royal Marriage Act passed in March 1772. Unfortunately this meant that the Duke of Gloucester, another brother of the King and Cumberland, who had himself married, without the King's knowledge or approval years earlier, but had kept it secret, felt honour bound to annouce it publicly and was also banished from Court. Therefore when these medals were struck they may have been popular with the common people but they were outside of the estalishment. , Oliver Cromwell had a hand in the execution of a British Monarchy. John Wilkes was seen as a radical, he had the support of William Beckford, Lord Camden had found for Wilkes against the Crown. Even Pitt, Lord Chatham, was a supporter of the Americans and favoured Wilkes views on no taxes without representation.

Sentimental Token: This is the first of a set of 13 by Kirk given as a gift each month to purchasers of The Sentimental Magazine. George III King of Great Britain ETc. Bronze 26mm This was the first Sentimental token I purchased, both the seller and I had no idea what it was: GEORGE THE SECOND. Circa 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. This one, the Duchess of Cumberland and the William Beckford are the only three that are undated (I have no idea why, any suggestions?). The Cromwell is dated 1658, the year of his death. This perhaps makes these slightly harder to identify as Sentimental tokens. The set as a whole is, I believe, less well known than it deserves, as is John Kirk the medallist. I hope this thread brings these wonderful tokens to a wider audience as they are fine early examples of the art of medal making and historic in their own right. I just need the Duchess of Cumberland to complete this set. I have seen two examples, but they were in so poor a condition, I would rather have a space than a poor filler. I will try to upgrade this last one, George II, as well.

Sentimental token: DUCHESS OF GLOCESTER 1774, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. Maria Walpole (1736-1807) alias Clements, Duchess of Gloucester, Countess Waldegrave, Duchess of Edinburgh Died: 2nd August 1807 at Oxford Lodge, Brompton, Middlesex . Maria was one of the three illegitimate daughters of Hon. Edward Walpole. She secretly married the king's brother the Duke of Gloucester and after they announced their marriage they were exiled from court. Though she was now a "Princess of Great Britain & Ireland" she never was received at court. This is how I found her on Ebay, in a lot of unknowns, at least she is back where she belongs, among friends. Sentimental token: LORD CAMDEN 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. Ist Earl Camden (Charles Pratt) On 17 July 1765 Pratt was created Baron Camden, of Camden Place, in the county of Kent, becoming a member of the House of Lords. Prime Minister Lord Rockingham had unsuccessfully made this, and other appointments, to curry favour with Pitt but Camden was not over-earger to get involved in the crisis surrounding the Stamp Act 1765. Camden did attend the Common on 14 January 1766 and his subsequent speeches on the matter in the Lords are so similar to Pitt's that he had clearly adopted the party line. He was one of only five Lords who voted against a resoluton of the House insisting on parliament's right to tax colonies overseas. Camden insisted that taxation was predicated on consent and that consent needed representation. Pratt lost his patron when Pitt left office iin October 1761 but in January 1762, he resigned from the Commons, was raised to the bench as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, received the customary knighthood and was sworn into the Privy Council. The Common Pleas was not an obvious forum for a jurist with constitutional interest, dealing as it did principally with disputes between private parties. However, on 30 April 1763, Member of Parliament John Wilkes was arrested under a general warrant for alleged seditious libel in issue No.45 of The North Briton. Pratt freed Wilkes holding that parliamentary privilege gave him immunity from arrest on such a charge. The decision earned Pratt some favour with the radical faction in London and seems to have spurred him, over the summer of that year to encourage juries to award disproportionate and excessive damages to printers unlawfully arrested over the same matter. Wilkes was awarded £1,000 (£127,000 at 2003 prices and Pratt condemned the use of general warrants for entry and search. Pratt pronounced with decisive and almost passionate energy against their legality, thus giving voice to the strong feeling of the nation and winning for himself an extraordinary degree of popularity as one of the maintainers of English civil liberties.

Sentimental token: DAVID GARRICK 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Gilded Bronze 26mm. Sentimental token: QUEEN CHARLOTTE 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm.

Sentimental token: JOHN WILKES ESQUIRE MEMBER FOR MIDDLESEX 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. Outspoken 18th-century journalist and popular London politician who came to be regarded as a victim of persecution and as a champion of liberty because he was repeatedly expelled from Parliament. His widespread popular support may have been the beginning of English Radicalism. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives. In 1771 he was instrumental in obliging the government to concede the right of printers to publish verbatim accounts of parliamentary debates. In 1776 he introduced the first Bill for parliamentary reform in the British Parliament. The Dutch politician Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol (1741–1784), who advocated the American Revolution and criticized the Stadtholder regime, was inspired by Wilkes. British subjects in the American colonies closely followed Wilkes's career. His struggles convinced many colonists that the British constitution was being subverted by a corrupt ministry, an idea that contributed to the coming of the American Revolution. After the Revolution, James Madison explicitly acted on his story when writing measures into the American constitution that prevented Congress from rejecting any legally elected member and proscribing general warrants for arrest. Sentimental token: THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM BECKFORD ND. Circa 1773, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. In March 1770 following the release of John Wilkes, of whom Beckford had been an ardent supporter, Beckford decorated his house with a large banner, which according to Horace Walpole bore the word Liberty written in three foot high embroidered white letters. A few weeks later, on 23 May, Beckford publicly admonished George III. Breaking contemporary protocol he asked the King to dissolve Parliament and to remove his civil councillors. King George was reportedly more enraged by the breach of protocol than by the nature of the request, yet it attracted the support of the Common Councilmen of London who expressed their gratitude by erecting a statue of Beckford, mounting it on a block of stone on which the words Beckford had used to admonish the king were engraved in gold.

Sentimental token: MARQUIS OF GRANBY 1774, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. General John Manners, Marquess of Granby PC, (Kelham, 2 January 1721 – October 18, 1770, Scarborough), British soldier, was the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father, he was known by his father's subsidiary title, Marquess of Granby. Minden was Granby's first great battle. At the head of the Blues he was one of the cavalry leaders halted at the critical moment by Lieutenant-General Sackville, and when in consequence that officer was sent home in disgrace, Granby succeeded to the command of the British contingent in Ferdinand's army, having 32,000 men under his orders at the beginning of 1760. He also replaced Sackville as Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. During Sackville's court-martial, Granby testified that Sackville had led the cavalry forward too slowly. Although he suggested Sackville had not been negligent, he could not prevent a verdict of "guilty", and Sackville was thereafter embittered against him. In the remaining campaigns of the Seven Years' War the English contingent was more conspicuous by its conduct than the Prussians themselves. On July 31, 1760 Granby brilliantly stormed Warburg at the head of the British cavalry, capturing 1500 men and ten pieces of artillery. Since his twenties, he had been almost entirely bald, but disdained to wear a wig; during the charge, he lost his hat, giving rise to the expression "going at it bald-headed". A year later (July 15, 1761) the British defended the heights of Villinghausen with what Ferdinand himself styled "indescribable bravery". On the following day, he led his troops in a counter-attack and helped drive the French from the field. His opponent, the duc de Broglie, was so impressed that he commissioned a portrait of Granby by Sir Joshua Reynolds. In the last campaign, at Gravenstein and Wilhelmsthal, Homberg, Gudensberg and Cassel, Granby's men bore the brunt of the fighting and earned the greatest share of the glory. Lord Ligonier praised his conduct at Wilhelmsthal, where he cut off the French rearguard as "Il a manoeuvré comme un ange … no man ever acted with more courage or more like a commanding officer." His last field action was at Brückermühl, where he brought two brigades to the relief of General Zastrow. Sentimental token: Oliver Cromwell 1658, by Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm.

-------Lord Chatham (William Pitt) Bronze 26mm. I should touch on relative values attached to these medals. They are affected by the same as most coins and medals, condition rarity etc, but they are affected within the set by: American interest in William Pitt and a couple of other tokens. The relative fame of the people now, either side of the Atlantic. Some have remained prominent characters, others have declined in peoples interest.

---------------Silvered example of The Duke of Glocester

----------Duke of Gloucester Sentimental token: Duke of Glocester (sic) 1773, by John Kirk for The Sentimental Magazine. 1 of a set of 13 Bronze 26mm. I will be posting 12 of the medals, I still need one to complete the set. Some Selected Reports from the Bath Journal Monday, March 29th, 1773 : The Sentimental Magazine A NEW MAGAZINE, With every Number of which will be given a curious MEDAL, struck on fine Metal, about the Size and Weight of a Guinea, executed by Mr. KIRKE, who is universally esteemed the First Artist in London in his Profession. This Medal will of itself, exclusive of the Magazine, be Worth at least Half-a-Crown; it will represent some reigning Toast, some Great Personage, some Hero celebrated in the Annals of our own Kingdom, or in those of the Continent, some Patriot, or some uncommon literary Genius. On Thursday the First of April will be Published, Price Six-Pence, In which will be given an elegant Medal of his Majesty George III. the Dye of which is executed by Mr. Kirke, and esteemed a most Striking Likeness; and also embellished with Copper-Plates, designed and engraved by the best Masters NUMBER I. [to be continued Monthly] of The SENTIMENTAL MAGAZINE Or, GENERAL ASSEMBLAGE of SCIENCE, TASTE and ENTERTAINMENT. Calculated to amuse the Mind, to improve the Understanding, and to amend the Heart. London: Printed for the Authors, and sold by G. KEARSLEY, removed from Ludgate-street to No. 46 in Fleet-street, and by all other Booksellers in Great Britain and Ireland. *** The MEDAL to be given with each Number will be sealed up in a Kind of silky Paper, provided for that Purpose, to prevent any Injury to the fine Impression of the Dye; and it will be so affixed to the Magazine, as to render it portable with it without any Inconvenience. Those Persons who are desirous of having any of the Medals given in the Course of this Work, struck in Gold, Silver, &c. may, by applying to the Publisher, be supplied with them on the most reasonable Terms.