100979 | AUSTRIA, GERMANY & OTTOMAN EMPIRE. Triple Alliance zinc Medal.

100979  |  AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, GERMANY & OTTOMAN EMPIRE. Franz Joseph, Wilhelm II & Mehmet V zinc Medal. Issued 1915. World War I series: The alliance of the Central Powers (54mm, 60.18 g, 12h). By A. Weinberger.

 

MCMXV VIRIBVS VNITIS, jugate uniformed busts right of Wilhelm, Franz Joseph, and Mehmet / MCMXV, soldier, holding spear and shield decorated with three coats-of-arms, on horse trotting left; to left, Victory leading them left; serpent in exergue. Edge: Plain.

 

Cf. Wurzbach 2774 (cast iron). Choice Mint State. Deep charcoal gray-olive green surfaces, a few light marks.

 

Following the formation of the German Empire in 1871, Otto von Bismarck sought to preserve peace and create a climate which would allow the fledlging empire to grow, mostly worrying about rivals Russia to the east and France to the west. A deal was struck in 1879 with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in that they would support each other in the event that either were to be attacked by Russia. Further, if any other European power were to attack one, the other would practice a policy of benevolent neutrality, limiting the possible number of rivals and ideally serving as a deterrent for the belligerent European power in the first place. This alliance served as the basis for that which would become the Central Powers (later adding the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria) during World War I.

 

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