100493 | GERMANY. Freising. Silver Medal.

100493  |  GERMANY. Freising. Silver Medal. Issued 1903. Commemorating the inauguration of the clerical and boys' ministry by the archbishop (41mm, 24.11 g, 12h). By A. Börsch.

 

HEILIGER KORBINIAN BITTE FUER UNS, St. Korbinian standing facing, head slightly left, raising hand in benediction and holding crozier; in background, bear standing left, head facing / DAS ERZB / KLERIKAL– / U KNABEN– / SEMINAR / IN FREISING in five lines, façade of Freising Cathedral; below, angel standing facing, spreading arms over two coats-of-arms. Edge: Plain.

 

Gebhardt 348. Gem Mint State. Steel gray matte surfaces, with an attractive rainbow appeal near the peripheries; one very minor rim nick near 4h on the obverse is noted merely for completeness. Very rare, with a mintage of just 300 pieces in silver and which were distributed only by the cathedral.

Born as Waldegiso in the latter part of the 7th century, he was later renamed Corbinian after his mother. Following years of living as a hermit, he made a pilgrimage, along with some of his disciples, to Rome, where Pope Gregorius II encouraged him to use his talents for the evangelizing of Bavaria. Upon returning to Bavaria, Corbinian began his ministry to Duke Grimoald, whom he denounced for Grimoald's marriage to Biltrudis, his brother's widow. This led to Corbinian's condemnation and flight from the realm, only to return upon the invitation of Huebert, Grimoald's successor. Corbinian's main attribute, the saddled bear, is alleged to have come from the story that, during his trek to Rome, a bear killed and devoured his horse, resulting in Corbinian forcing the bear into the horse's role as a working animal. Upon Corbinian's arrival in Rome, the beast was freed and returned to its native forest.

 

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