1919 Silver Medal Johnson-33 Peace of Versailles

Coin Details

Description

The 1919 Johnson-33 silver medal commemorates the Peace of Versailles, the silver companion to the bronze version of this cataloged commemorative piece. The silver composition marks this as the premium version, produced in smaller quantities for presentation or sale to serious collectors. The Peace of Versailles ended World War I, the catastrophic conflict that killed approximately seventeen million people and reshaped the political map of Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The Johnson-33 catalog attribution identifies this within a reference series of significant American commemorative medals. The silver version would have commanded a substantially higher price at the time of issue, reflecting both the precious metal content and the limited production run typical of silver medal editions. The artistic treatment at this quality level typically involved careful attention to surface finish, with either a matte or proof-like treatment enhancing the medal's visual appeal. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles — the same room where the German Empire had been proclaimed in 1871 following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. This deliberate humiliation was part of a broader pattern of punitive measures that included German acknowledgment of sole responsibility for the war, the loss of approximately thirteen percent of its pre-war territory, and reparations that would not be fully paid until 2010. The medal documents a moment of triumph for the Allied cause that, in retrospect, proved tragically insufficient as a foundation for lasting peace.

Rarity Notes

Silver versions of Johnson-33 were produced in smaller quantities than the bronze edition. The Peace of Versailles subject matter generates strong collector interest in both compositions.

Cross References

PCGS #946163; Johnson-33; Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919