Emperor Karl VI Honor Medal

Introduction: The reason for issuing the Emperor Karl VI Honor Medal (Kaiser Karl VI Gnadenmedaille) was to reward outstanding service to the empire during the war of the Spanish Succession

Date Issued: 1711-40

Reason Issued:  For outstanding service to the empire during the war of the Spanish Succession

Classes or Types: Seven

• Large Gold Medal
• Gold Medal
• Small Gold Medal
• Large Silver Medal
• Silver Medal
• Small Silver Medal
• Bronze Medal

Interesting Facts: Issued in 1711 to Phillip Orth, Burgomaster of Frankfurt on Main and in 1730 to Jakob Paul Freiherr von Gundling, President of the Academy of Science in Berlin

Hallmarks: None Known

Design: An oval medal with attached flattened decorative eye.

Obverse: A bust of Emperor Karl VI in armor the breast of which is decorated with a double headed eagle and wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. His right facing bust has a victor’s wreath and long flowing hair. Around the upper half of the medal is the inscription: CAROLUS VI D.G. ROM. IMP. S. A. GE. HI. HU. BO.REX. (Karl VI with the Grace of God Roman Emperor Sovereign of Austria, Galicia, HI, Hungary, Bohemia King) Below the emperor’s arm is the name of the designer: BECKER F, (Philip Christoph Becker), the F stands for fabrikat (manufactured).

Reverse: A large globe in the center of a ring of clouds. On this globe is a map of the Italian peninsula Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and part of the Dalmatian coastline. Paralleling the top edge of the medal is an inscription: CONSTANTIA ET FORTUDINE. (Faithful Service and Bravery)

Weight:

• Large Gold Medal = 29 Ducats (101.2 grams)
• Gold Medal = 24 Ducats (70-83.4 grams)
• Small Gold Medal = 16 Ducats (55.8 grams)
• Large Silver Medal = 101.2 grams
• Silver Medal = Unknown
• Small Silver Medal = Unknown
• Bronze Medal = Unknown

Size: 

• Large Gold Medal = 68 mm by 60 mm and 3 mm thick
• Gold Medal = 57-58 mm by 49 mm
• Small Gold Medal = 48 mm by 42 mm
• Large Silver Medal = 69 mm by 60 mm
• Silver Medal = 48 mm by 42 mm
• Small Silver Medal = 38-34 mm by 33-29 mm
• Bronze Medal = 58 mm by 49 mm

Type of Material: Gold, Silver, and Bronze

Variations: There are four types of honor medals

• Type I = As described with Maker’s name BECKER
• Type II = As described but with the makers name P.C. BECKER
• Type III = As described but without the eagle on the breast of the armor and the makers name BECKER
• Type IV = As described but without the eagle on the breast of the armor and the makers name BECKER f (fabrikat = manufactured)
• Type V: As described except it does not have the makers name and the obverse inscription differs as follows: CAROL VI DG R  IM SA GE HI HU BO REX  AR

Designer: Philip Christoph Becker

Manufacturer: Unknown

Number Issued: Unknown

Case: Unknown

Ribbon: Unknown

Attachments: None

Miniature: None known

Hope you enjoyed this blog. Until next time, I hope you find joy in our shared interest.

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By richard lussier on February 8, 2023   /   Austro-Hungarian   /   Leave a comment