103470 | GERMANY. Avian silver Prize Medal.

103470  |  GERMANY. Avian silver Prize Medal. Engraved 1936. For Meritorious Achievements Presented by the Canary Breeders' Association in Gera (35mm, 15.77 g, 12h). By Otto Oertel in Berlin.

 

FÜR VERDIENSTVOLLE LEISTUNGEN, canary standing right upon nest in which rests another canary facing left // Garlanded oak wreath containing engraving in four lines: "Zum 50-jähr / Jubiläum / des K. Z. V. Gera / 1936." : + OSTERLANDISCHER KANARIENZÜCHTER–VERBAND / ZEITZ / 1929 / A.–KL. Edge: SILBER 990; loop removed from top. Choice Mint State. Highly vibrant and deeply toned an enticing iridescence.

 

The practice of breeding and keeping birds––known as aviculture––has been a long-standing hobby of bird enthusiasts, with the Avicultural Society of America being founded in 1927. In Europe, however, the organized practice dates back even further, with numerous local and regional clubs––especially in Germany––dedicated to the pursuit in the 19th century. Similar to kennel clubs, these groups would organize competitions in which a participant’s flock could be judged against their peers, with the top finishers receiving prize medals for their bird(s). These medals were sometimes struck in different metals in order to distinguish placement, while other times the ranking may be indicated in the text. To add a further degree of personalization, some were engraved in order to convey the specific chapter which hosted the competition and/or the recipient of the prize. These medals also presented their designer with an excellent chance to showcase their avian artistry, as few aspects of numismatics display birds as the prime subject and in such detail.

 

Upload: 17 February 2026.