103027 | GERMANY, UNITED STATES & JAPAN. Europe's Suicide cast iron Medal.

103027  |  GERMANY, UNITED STATES & JAPAN. Europe's Suicide cast iron Medal. Issued 1917. "Europas Selbstmord"—on the idea that the United States and Japan were benefiting from the turmoil in Europe (85mm, 159.00 g, 12h). By Karl Goetz in München.

 

EUROPAS SELBSTMORD, nude Europa astride a ransacking bull of war left, trampling upon toppled crowns; countless bayonets and soldiers' helmets below // DIE LACHENDEN ERBEN (the laughing heirs), upright cannon from which spews numerous coins that are collected eagerly by Uncle Sam to the left (representing the United States and with the facial features of Woodrow Wilson) and man to the right (representing Japan, rather stereotypically presented based upon attire). Edge: Some filing marks as made, otherwise plain.

 

Kienast 199; Frankenhuis 1476. Mint State. Deep charcoal gray surfaces, with some minor rub upon the high points.

 

Toward the end of the war, Goetz felt as though two of its participants, the United States and Japan, were the ones reaping the rewards of a devastated Europe–given that essentially all other combatants (Central or Allied powers) were continental. Japan played an important role in rebuffing Germany's exploits in the Pacific theater during the war, while America's entry was only recent, but would prove to be highly pivotal.

 

Upload: 16 December 2024.

 

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