An 1875 Inauguration of the Hermann Monument Medal
Item #G30353
$60
Prussia - (Hermannsdenkmal): White metal, obverse illustrating the Hermann Monument (Hermannsdenkmal), with "ERBAUT V." and "E. v. BANDEL" at its base and engraver marked "SCHLIEPHARKE", surrounded by the inscription in Gothic text "Hermann Befreier Deutschlands vom römischen Johre" within an ornate frame, reverse inscribed in the centre "ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DIE EINWEIHUNG DES HERMANN-DENKMALS IM AUGUST 1875", surrounded by the inscription "DEUTCHLANDS EINIGKEIT MEINE STÄRKE MEINE STÄRKE DEUTSCHLANDS MACHT", 37.8 mm, integral loop suspension, edge nicks, contact marks, pitted, very fine.
Footnote: The Hermann Monument (Hermannsdenkmal) is a monument located southwest of Detmold in the district of Lippe, (North Rhine-Westphalia) in Germany. It stands on the densely forested Grotenburg (de), a hill (elevation 386 m) in the Teutoburger Wald (Teutoburg Forest) range. The monument is located inside the remains of a circular rampart. The hill is sometimes also called the Teutberg or Teut for short. The monument commemorates the Cherusci war chief Arminius (in German, Hermann) and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in which the Germanic warriors under Arminius defeated three Roman legions under Varus in 9 AD. At the time it was built, the location of the statue was believed to have been very near the actual site of the battle, though it is now considered to be more likely that the battle actually took place near Kalkriese, a considerable distance to north west of the monument. After the German victory over the French in the Franco-Prussian War and the creation of the new German Empire, Bandel's Arminius monument perfectly captured the mood of the times and work advanced rapidly. The new Reichstag allocated 10,000 thaler. From August 1871, Bandel once again worked on the site and in 1872 moved there with his wife. In September 1873, the workshop in Hanover was closed and the finishing touch to the monument (the attaching of the Emperor William relief) was applied in July 1875. The monument was inaugurated on August 16, 1875, in the presence of Emperor William I and the crown prince, Frederick, which made this an event of national importance. Around 20,000 to 30,000 people participated in the festivities.