101163 | AUSTRIA. "Pied Piper of Hamelin" uniface bronze Plaque.

101163  |  AUSTRIA. "Pied Piper of Hamelin" uniface bronze Plaque. Issued circa 1910–1920. Fairy tales series (74x53mm, 93.50 g). By K. Perl in Wien (Vienna).

 

The Pied Piper advancing right, playing flute and luring five children to follow him from behind; in exergue, "Der Rattenfänger von Hameln" in calligraphic script. Edge: Plain.

 

Gem Mint State. Pleasing chocolate brown surfaces, with an appealing matte nature.

 

Dating back to the early 14th century and as depicted in a stained glass window in the Saxon village of Hamelin, the legend of the "Pied Piper" involves the village enlisting the services of a rat-catcher to drive out the menacing vermin. By means of his magic flute, the piper successfully leads the rats from the village. Reneging on their end of the deal, however, the villagers refuse to compensate the piper as previously agreed. In return, the piper once again utilizes his flute, only this time he leads away the village children as payback for their parents' treachery. The exact nature of the tale, picked up later by the Brothers Grimm, is uncertain, though the problem presented by rats in the middle ages—as the agents of the plague—is well known.

 

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