101648 | SWEDEN. Elias Fries silver Medal.

101648  |  SWEDEN. Elias Fries silver Medal. Issued 1881. Honoring the mycologist and botanist (31mm, 14.75 g, 12h). By L. Ahlborn.

 

ELIAS MAGN FRIES BOTAN PROFESSOR UPSAL, capped head left / REGIONES NONDUM EXPLORATAS ILLUSTRAT, genius, holding torch, advancing right through forest; various forms of fungi growing on ground; in four lines in exergue, SOCIO BOTANICO / INGENIOSISSIMO / REG AC SCIENT SVEC / MDCCCLXXXI. Edge: Plain.

 

Olsén p. 260; Hy. II, p. 176. Choice Mint State. Highly brilliant and mirrored, with a charming cobalt tone on the reverse; a few light hairlines are noted for completeness.

 

Emanating from a family that would become rather entrenched in the world of botany and, quite specifically, mycology—the study of fungi, Elias Fries is considered to be one of the fathers of the modern taxonomy of mushrooms. Even this medal, on its reverse, rather cleverly depicts various mushrooms growing on the forest floor through which the individual advances.

 

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