Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

Medals of the Early Colonial Period and the European Heritage, Abolition of Slavery in the Danish West Indies, 1792, a copper medal by P.L. Gianelli, head of negro left, rev. seated figure of Victory holding tropical plant, negro’s head decorating an ewer at her side, 56mm (BDM II, 259). Very fine, light patina, extremely rare £500-700

Provenance: Bt I. Rudman 1985 [from Spink c. 1979].

The late owner’s unconfirmed note, sold with the lot, states ‘dies for this medal were private property and were destroyed after a few examples were struck. 10 pieces known in silver: 4 in tin: 1 in tin gilt; 1 in bronzed tin; 1 in galvanic gilt: 3 in bronze. Bronze examples, L.E. Brunn Collection 1928 (lot 16063), gifted to Frederiksborg Castle; J.G. Guildal (alias Goldschmidt), 1930 (lot 279); Danish private collection (T.B.), coming from Switzerland, 1978. This piece might be Guidal’s’