103472 | BELGIUM. Mercator-Ortelius gilt bronze Medal.

103472  |  BELGIUM. Mercator-Ortelius gilt bronze Medal. Issued 1871 for the 1st International Geographical Congress at Antwerp (61mm, 70.94 g, 12h). By François Ignace Baetes for Hubert Meyer in Antwerp.

 

Mercator-Ortelius map projection with two tituli (one incribed MERCATOR, the other ORTELIUS) between two parallel bands; stars in voids; above, radiant Eye of Providence below "DOMINI EST TERRA ET / PLENITUDO EIUS" (the earth, and the fullness thereof, is the Lord's, –adapted from Psalm 24) in two lines; below, open book inscribed ΚΟΣ-ΜΟΣ over crossed torch and laurel branch // Unfurled ship's sail inscribed GEOGRAPHI / PRIMA VICE UNDIQUE / SCIENTIÆ & COMEMERCII / STUDIO CONGREGATI / ANTWERPIÆ / XIV-XXII AUGUSTI / MDCCC LXXI in seven lines and flying Belgian banner; globe and instruments of geography below; in background, civic coat-of-arms of Antwerp over terrestrial and maritime scenes. Edge: Plain. Médailles Historiques de Belgiques I, 30 & pl. XXV. Mint State. Brassy-yellow surfaces, with great brilliance throughout.

 

Ex Drewry Family Collection.

 

Ex Wayte Raymond Collection (Part II, NASCA, 4 May 1978), lot 2108.

 

The International Geographic Congress met for the first time in 1871 in Antwerp for the purpose of celebrating the statues to Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius in Antwerp and Rupelmonde. The contemporaneous duo were important figures in the world of cartography, with Mercator creating a different projection that represented sailing courses of constant bearing and with Ortelius being credited as the creator of the first modern atlas.

 

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Upload: 20 January 2026.

 

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