Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Germany, Prussia, Remembrance Medal 1878, gold, 29mm., 20.74g., obv: crowned gothic ‘W’ cypher of Kaisar Wilhelm I; rev: ‘Erinnerung 1878’ within a wreath of oakleaves, unnamed, unmounted, in fitted blue velvet case with paper label on base numbered, ‘26’, extremely fine and rare £1400-1600

Provenance: Purchased by the vendor directly from the Bismarck family.

The year 1878 saw two attempts upon the life of Kaisar Wilhelm I. The first by Emil Heinrich Max Hödel on 11th May and again on 2nd June when the emperor was fired at and wounded by Dr Karl Edouard Nobiling, a professor of philology at Berlin. Such was the wound that the Crown Prince was authorised to direct public affairs in the absence of his father and only in December did the Kaisar resume his position in the government. Gold medals were awarded both as a mark of remembrance and as a reward to the doctors and nurses who were instrumental in the Kaisar's recovery. Given the nature of the award, it is quite possible one or more were given to Chancellor Bismarck or to a member of his family.