Paul Bosco Coins and Medals

The Medals of Karl Goetz

The satirical pieces of Karl Goetz are probably the most highly sought of twentieth-century medals. By applying the style of modernist cartoon art popular in posters and the scatological humor of earlier satirical medals to the renaissance format of the cast bronze medal, Goetz produced a series of works that movingly convey German triumphalism during the first World War, its nationalist and racist response to the humiliating defeat of the war, and the growth of nihilistic culture that culminated in the Nazi movement. After Goetz, the medal was never again the same; the Beaux-Arts style of the late nineteenth century evident on many of the other medals of the First World War was shown to be inadequate for expressing the concerns of the new age.

We list below those Goetz pieces currently in our stock. ”K” numbers refer to Gunter Kienast’s outstanding 1967 catalog of Goetz’ medallic work. Kienast had unparalleled access to source material, thanks to the co-operation of Karl’s son Guido Goetz. Kienast published a supplement in 1986. If you desire these books, a recent reprint can be ordered from http://www.karlgoetzmedals.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=410.

For photos of many of the medals and more information on the man and his work, we recommend Scott Goodman’s Goetz website: http://www.karlgoetz.com/Gallery.aspx. You can find detailed information on individual pieces by typing the Kienast number in the search box at the top right of his page, as K-169, and then clicking on the result line.

Cast medals, except as noted, are in excellent condition. Struck medals are graded like coins.

Goetz Medals in our stock by Kienast number

K-9. Otto von Bismarck, Installation of his bust in the Valhalla memorial, 1908. Obverse: bust of Bismarck, ¾ left. Reverse: view of the Valhalla memorial on the Danube in Bavaria. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 40 mm. Unc., $350.

K-12. Frederick the Great, 200^th anniversary of birth, 1912. Obverse: bust of Frederick, right. Reverse: three drummers. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. Struck bronze, 36 mm. Unc., $99; VF, bad edge nicks, $60.

K-15. Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, centenary of birth, 1906. Obverse: bust of Luitpold facing. Reverse: crowned family tree. Cast bronze, 72 mm. $295.

Figure 1 Kienast 15

K-36. Ernst von Possart, general manager of the Bavarian Royal Theatre, 1905. Obverse: bust of Possart, right. Reverse: cartouche with Possart’s name, MUENCHEN and 1854-1905 intaglio. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 35 mm. Unc., $135.

K-50. Count von Zeppelin, flight to Munich, 1912. Obverse: bust of Zeppelin, ¾ right. Reverse: dirigible above stone inscribed by nude youth. Cast bronze, 65 mm. $395.

Figure 2 Kienast 50

K-52. Count von Zeppelin, flight to Vienna, 1913. Obverse: bust of Zeppelin, ¾ right. Reverse: dirigible above rooftops of Vienna. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver [?], 45 mm. AUm $280.

K-84. Wedding medal, c. 1910. Obverse: Couple being married by Christ. Reverse: Art Nouveau design of hears and flowers. Struck bronze, 45 mm. Choice AU, $195.

K-93. City of Laufen, 1 mark notgeld, 1918. Obverse: denomination inscription surrounded by mint legend. Reverse: Saint Rupert seated, date in exergue. Struck iron, 26 mm. Slight rust spots, else Choice AU, $69.

Figure 3 Kineast 93

K-97a. Chamber of Commerce, Dresden, Award for Loyalty in Work, c. 1905. Obverse: workman standing. Reverse: inscription above cornucopia. Struck bronze, 24 x 36 mm. F-VF, $39.

K-98a. Chamber of Commerce, Leipzig, Award for Loyalty in Work, c. 1905. Obverse: workman standing. Reverse: inscription above knot. Struck bronze, 24 x 36 mm. AU, $85.

K-100b. Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Zittau, Award for Loyalty in Work, c. 1905. Obverse: workman standing. Reverse: inscription above branches. Struck bronze, 24 x 36 mm. EF, some corrosion, $39.

K-133. Mobilization of the Austrian Army, 1914. Obverse: bust of Franz Josef, left. Reverse: two-headed eagle, wings spread. Cast bronze, 83 mm. EF, spots on wings, $250; another, about perfect, $375. Auction records (EF) at £400 to £420.

K-136. The Sewer of Revenge, 1914. Obverse: French symbol Marianne in front of a sun of swords sewing in a field of snakes, Reverse: French rooster dropping on Geneva Accords in front of Dum Dum bullets. Cast bronze, 56 mm. $375. Goldberg auction: $575 plus buyer’s fee.

K-140. The Carriers of Culture. Obverse: leaders of the Allies: Tsar Nicholas II, caricature of an African, caricature of a Turk, Raymond Poincaré, caricature of a Zoave, caricature of a Japanese, George V. Reverse: 8-line inscription. Cast bronze, 90 x 60 mm. $395.

Figure 4 Kienast 140

K-146. The three Counts Spree, 1914. Obverse: facing busts of Heinrich, Maximilian, and Otto von Spree. Reverse: Eagle with olive branch in talons flying over waves. Cast bronze, 103 mm. Greenish-brown discoloration, but still about VF, $265.

K-152. Married during the War, 1914. Obverse: two hands joined in front of sword. Reverse: shield with helmet above. Cast bronze, 58 mm. Very slight nicks, $195.

K-153. Born during the World War, c. 1914. Obverse: infant in helmet. Reverse: plant growing through rocks. Cast bronze, 57 mm. $195; another particularly nice, $225.

K-155. Admiral von Tirpitz, 1915. Obverse: bust of Tirpitz, ¾ left. Reverse: Nude Neptune on submarine sail. Cast bronze, 80 mm. Obverse a little spotted (not bad), $250.

K-156var. The Sinking of the Lusitania, 1915, English copy. Obverse: Death selling tickets. Reverse: ship sinking. Date on 5^th line of exergue has MAY in English. Struck iron, 56 mm. $45.

Figure 5 Kienast 156var

K-161. General Fieldmarshal Prince Leopold of Bavaria, 1915. Obverse, bust of Leopold, ¾ left. Reverse: lion climbing onto ramparts of Warsaw. Cast bronze, 82 mm.$325.

Figure 6 Kienast 161

K-162. The Sinking of the U-27 Baralong, 1915. Obverse: hand with dagger emerging from sleeve with British flag. Reverse: Sailor receiving honors from British King and Queen. Cast bronze, 57 mm. $225. SOLD

K-165. Abuse of Neutral Flags, 1915. Obverse: skeleton dressed as admiral above British foreign minister Edward Gray. Reverse: inscription condemning British claims to neutrality at sea surrounded by motto ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense.’ Cast bronze, 57 mm. $250.

K-177. The Searching of Mail, 1916. Obverse: Woodrow Wilson half-heartedly protests against British inspection of mail aboard American liners. Reverse: British sailor carrying off bags of mail. Cast bronze, 57 mm. $250.

K-180. The Execution of Roger Casement, 1916. Obverse: the Irish patriot and German collaborator being garroted. Reverse: cobwebbed documents of 1351 that served as the legal basis of the treason charge. Cast bronze, 58 mm.

K-186. Death of Franz Josef, 1916. Obverse: bust, left. Reverse: Crucifixion on globus crucifer, with two-headed eagle perched. Cast bronze, 79 mm. $295.

K-194. Wilson: America’s Sorcerer. Obverse: Wilson, facing dragon, sticks finger down his throat. Reverse: representatives of four supporting Scandinavian nations seated on a bench facing away. Cast iron, 57 mm. $249.

K-196. And Quiet Flows the Rhine. Obverse: Skeleton knees captive woman in buttocks. Reverse: pin with head of Bismarck pierces heart with Phrygian cap. Two cast bonze uniface clichés, 57 mm. $495

K-230. The Bismarck Mausoleum, 1919. Obverse: Bismarck facing, fists raised, above 14-line inscription. Reverse: Bismarck’s mausoleum behind trees in Friedrichsruh. Cast bronze, 106 mm. $395.

K-242var. Christmas in the Field, 1915. Obverse: bust of Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria, right. Reverse: date between two candles. Struck silver, 22 mm. $125.

K-257. The Dear Nicky Letters, 1920. Obverse, Wilhelm II writing letters to Nicholas I in 1895. Reverse: Quack doctor Eisenbarth telling Bismarck that the king is not crazy, just a Berliner. Cast bronze, 59 mm. $235.

Figure 7 Kienast 257

K-260. The Kapp Putsch, 1920. Obverse: the 5-day chancellor mounts his abortive overthrow of the government. Reverse: workers turn a wheel to which is attached a flag for the general strike of March 13 to 21, 1920. Cast bronze, 59 mm. $225.

K-265. The Gessler Hat in the Palatinate, 1920. Obverse: phallic image of helmeted fasces with African soldier grabbing German girl by the hair. Reverse: fist rising from the ground behind African soldier taunting nude figure of Germany with branch. Cast bronze, 60 mm. Coin Galleries (Stack’s) 8/2009: $920!! My price: $295!

K-274. Brothels on the Rhine, 1920. Obverse: African French soldiers accosting German women. Reverse: German town turned into “Brothel for Blacks”. Two uniface bronze casts, perhaps preliminary matrices, 60 mm. Pair: $495. Coin Galleries (Stack’s) 8/2009: $747.50 for a normal cast example.

K-282. The Peace of Frankfurt, 50^th anniversary, 1921. Obverse: bust of Bismarck, ¾ left. Reverse: bust of Helmuth von Moltke, ¾ left. Cast bronze, 45 mm. $135, Goldberg auction: $200 plus buyer’s fee.

K-288. Captain Baron von Richthofen, 1918. Obverse: bust of Richthofen, ¾ left. Reverse: eagle in front of grave monument with winged helmet. Struck silver reproduction, marked 1978 on reverse, 36 mm. AUm $95.

K-315. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1924. Obverse: bust of Bach, right. Reverse: Crucifixion in front of organ, in front of Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. Struck bronze, 36 mm. Unc., $35.

K-317. Otto von Bamberg, 1924. Obverse: Crucifixion in front of griffon. Reverse: saint between shields. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. $225.

K-320. Richard Wagner, 1927. Obverse: bust of Wagner, ¾ left. Reverse: harp in front of Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. $225.

K-323. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1925. Obverse, bust left. Reverse: cherubs making music within Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. Choice Unc., $235.

K-324. Rhineland Millennium, 1925. Obverse: maiden, center, joining personification of Rhineland, right, with personification of Germany, left. Reverse: bell hanging from framework draped with scroll held by cherubs. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 40 mm. Choice AU, $225.

K-328. Order of the Wartburg, 1922. Obverse: Knight on horseback, left, surrounded by motto. Reverse: Maltese Cross. Cast silvered bronze medallion, 63 mm., within cast floriated border, 79 mm., suspended from cast bronze chain with central plaque with image of Wartburg within scrollwork and filigree, 54 x 45 mm, and seven plaques of hands grasping flaming heart, 59 x 24 mm. Not for public sale; inquiries welcome.

K. 360. Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Central Thuringia, Weimar, Award for Loyalty in Work. Obverse: Wartburg. Reverse: inscription within wreath surrounded by legend. Struck silver, 45 mm. Struck bronze, 45 mm. AU, $49.

K. 361. Chamber of Industry and Commerce of East Thuringia, Gera, Award for Loyalty in Work. Obverse: Wartburg. Reverse: inscription within wreath surrounded by legend. Unc./AU., $85; another VF+/AU, $65.

K-363a. Chamber of Commerce, Chemnitz, Award for Loyalty in Work, c. 1905. Obverse: workman standing. Reverse: inscription above branches. Struck bronze, 24 x 36 mm. Choice AU, $75.

K-364var. State Economic Bureau, East Prussia, Award for Loyalty in Work, c. 1905. Obverse: workman standing. Reverse: inscription. Struck white metal, 24 x 36 mm. Struck white metal, 24 x 36 mm. Struck zinc, 24 x 36 mm. $59.

K-367. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Ludwig van Beethoven, 1926. Obverse: jugate busts, left. Reverse: cherub playing harp in front of Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. About Unc., $235; cast bronze, 75 mm, slight spotting, $295.

Figure 8 Kienast 367

K-384. Michael Cardinal von Faulhaber, c. 1927. Obverse: half-length figure, blessing, left. Reverse: Cardinal’s galero above two shields. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. (2)

K-386. President Paul von Hindenburg, 80^th birthday. Obverse: bust, right. Reverse: Prussian shield above Hindenburg family arms flanked by helmets. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. (4)

K-388. Albrecht Dürer, 400^th anniversary of death, 1928. Obverse: bust, right. Reverse: Shield of Dürer (from Gebel medal) with ornamented helmet above, putto to right. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-393. Baron von Hünefeld and Dr. Hermann Köhl, 1938. Obverse: Jugate busts, ¾ left. Reverse: airplane above two putti on dolphins. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint, Struck silver, 36 mm. (2)

K-396. Karl Maria von Weber, 1927. Obverse: bust, ¾ right. Reverse: hunters in forest of Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-404. Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt, 1928. Obverse: busts facing. Reverse: Tannhäuser and Elisabeth standing beneath Wartburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-406. For a sovereign Bavaria within the German Empire, 1928. Obverse: Mary, patron of Bavaria, with child. Reverse: crowned arms of Bavaria supported by two lions. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-408. Count von Zeppelin, 90^th birthday. Obverse: bust, ¾ right. Reverse: Zeppelin Z-127 behind arms of Zeppelin with helmet surmounted by donkey’s head. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. (3)

Figure 9 Kienast 408

K-410. Prince Otto von Bismarck, 30^th anniversary  of death, 1928. Obverse: bust facing. Reverse: clover with oak leaves. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-420. Pope Pius XI, Lateran treaty with Italy, 1929. Obverse only, struck on flattened Swedish medal of 1890. Obverse: bust left. Struck silver, 35 mm.

K-432. Gustav Stresemann, death, 1929. Obverse: bust, right. Reverse: Graveyard with stones marked with names and dates of treaties. Struck silver, 36 mm. (2). Struck bronze, 36 mm.

K-435. Aventinus (Johann Turmair), 395^th anniversary of death, 1929. Obverse: half-length figure, facing. Reverse: inscription naming the Bavarian Numismatic Society above and below plaque with 9-line inscription. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 60 mm. (2)

K-436. Claudius Dornier, 1929. Obverse: bust, left. Reverse: flying boat DO-X above waves. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-439. Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther, 400^th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession. Obverse: jugate busts, ¾ left. Reverse: Charles V at Diet of Augsburg. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

Figure 10 Kienast 439

K-441. Martin Luther and John the Steadfast, 400^th anniversary of the stay of Luther in the Coburg citadel, 1930. Obverse: jugate busts, ¾ right. Reverse: Coburg citadel. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Stuck silver, 36 mm.

K-449. Wartburg parking lot plaquette, 1930. Obverse: Knight standing beneath Wartburg. Cast uniface plaquette with four holes for mounting: 88 x 114 mm.

Figure 11 Kienast 449

K-450. French evacuation of the Palatinate and Rhineland, 1930. Obverse: Germania sheltering vintners and townsmen. Reverse: Neptune standing in the Rhine. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 60 mm.

K-456. Frederic Barbarossa, 750^th anniversary of enfiefment of Bavaria to the Wittelsbach family. Obverse: Otto von Wittelsbach, r., kneeling before Barbarossa. Reverse: bust, facing, of Crown Prince Ruprecht, surrounded by 15-line inscription. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 60 mm. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-457. Paul von Hindenburg and Otto von Bismarck. 60^th anniversary of the proclamation of the German Empire, 1931. Obverse: jugate busts, right. Reverse: Crown above eagle’s head. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-467. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, centennial of death, 1932. Obverse: bust, left. Reverse: Adam and Eve between natural forces. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. (2) Struck bronze, 36 mm.

Figure 12 Kienast 467

K-473. Gustav II Adolphus, King of Sweden, 300^th anniversary of death, 1932. Obverse: bust, ¾ right. Reverse: Eye of Providence above globus cruciger. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Sruck silver, 36 mm. (2)

Figure 13 Kienast 473

K-474. Josef Haydn. 200^th anniversary of birth, 1932. Obverse: bust, right. Reverse: Earth with swirling clouds. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-483. Adolf Hitler, passage of Enabling Act in the Reichstag, 1933. Obverse: bust right. Reverse: soldier waving Nazi flag. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, looped, 22 mm.

K-495. Anton Bruckner, erection of bust in the Valhalla memorial. Obverse: bust, left. ReverseL Organ beneath the Valhalla memorial. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm. Struck bronze, 36 mm.

K-499. Paul von Hindenburg, death, 1934. Obverse: bust, left. Reverse: Tannenberg momument. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 36 mm.

K-502. Georg Friedrich Händel, 250^th anniversary of death, 1935. Obverse: bust, left. Reverse: Messiah standing in front of organ. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck silver, 36 mm.

K-509. Railroad from Nuremburg to Furth, 100^th anniversary of opening. Obverse: busts of Paul Denis, Johannes Scharrer, Georg Platner, ¾ left. Reverse: locomotive emerging from station. Edge stamp of the Bavarian mint. Struck bronze, 31 mm.

K-591. Colonel Werner Mölders, death, 1941. Obverse: bust, facing. Reverse: Eagle with arrow above marked 115, and Knight’s Cross below. Cast bronze, 95 mm.

Figure 14Kienast 591

K-644a. Ruhr and Rhine, 50 million mark Notgeld, 1923. Obverse: Prometheus with eagle feeding on liver. Reverse: infant in flames. On edge: NOTGELD. Struck brass, 32 mm.

Guido Goetz: Hunger Thaler, 1948. Obverse: Saint standing in front of ruined buildings. Reverse: Death seated holding scales. Struck silver, 36 mm.

Click here for a complete listing of our personal medals sorted by artist.

Click here for a listing of modern art medals by artist.

For information on these medals, or any others in our stock, email me at pauljbosco@covad.net .