103418 | GERMANY. Burning of the Witches Night uniface cast bronze Medal.

103418  |  GERMANY. Witches' Night uniface cast bronze Medal. Issued 1907. Commemorating the feast of Saint Walpurga and the "European Halloween" (65mm, 42.28 g). By Hans Schwegerle for Carl Poellath in Schrobenhausen.

 

Nude witch, with head turned left and holding stick, riding broom right; to right, owl flying right; WALPURGIS / NACHT (Walpurgis Night) in two lines below // Blank. Edge: Plain.

 

Cf. Heidemann 1295 (reverse with legend in four lines between stars); cf. Datow 10 (same); cf. Hasselmann 14a (same). Essentially as Cast. Dark brown surfaces, with some lighter hints upon the higher points. A very rare and interesting type, especially here as a uniface issue, for which this is the only such example that this cataloger could locate.

 

Walpurgisnacht, also known as "Burning of the Witches Night," is a Northern and Central European holiday celebrated on the eve of May. Named for St. Walpurga, an 8th century abbess in Francia, it has long been associated with invocations against pests and diseases, as well as witchcraft, with bonfires being lit at night in order to ward off the latter. In a sense, it serves as somewhat of a springtime analog to Halloween in Europe.

 

Upload: 19 October 2026.