Byzantine, Sicilian, British and World Coins, Medals and Tokens

Richard Wagner, bronze medal by Leopold Wiener, published by Thieme, Leipzig, head r., reverse figures from Wagner’s operas, 71mm (Niggl 2259; A.u.E. 308). Extremely fine (£40-50)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Musica in Nummis: A Collection of Medals relating to Classical Musicians.

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One of the earliest medallic portraits of Wagner, perhaps commissioned to mark his death in 1883. Wiener died in 1891 and thus the medal must precede this date. The example in the Bottenheim Collection (Schulman, Amsterdam, fixed price list 219, April 1981) was offered at 150 gulden.