1859 Medal Friedrich Schiller Bronze 42mm Birth Centenary

Coin Details

Description

This 1859 bronze medal at 42mm commemorates the birth centenary of Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), the great German poet and dramatist. Schiller's plays and philosophical works influenced Romantic literature across Europe and America. The centenary was celebrated internationally, with elaborate commemorations across German-American communities. Schiller's ideals of freedom and human dignity resonated strongly with immigrants, and his "Ode to Joy" became one of the most universal expressions of human aspiration. Bronze medals have served as the workhorse composition for American commemoratives, providing a durable and affordable medium that allowed broad distribution while maintaining the artistic quality of the original designs. This medal documents cultural connections between German intellectual tradition and American society during peak German immigration.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Schiller birth centenary medal, 1859. German-American cultural medals are moderately collected.

Cross References

PCGS #893188; Friedrich Schiller; Birth Centenary; 42mm Bronze; 1859