Francis Joseph I, Austrian Empire
Silver Medal 1896 (2 Gulden), VI Moravian shooting competition in Moravska Ostrava
Franz Joseph I., Kaisertum Österreich
Silbermedaille 1896 (2 Gulden), VI. Mährische Landesschießen in Mährisch-Ostrau
František Josef I., Rakouské cisařství
Stříbrná medaile 1896 (2 Zlatník), VI. moravská střelecká soutěž v Moravské Ostravě
Vídeň / Vienna / Wien, F. X. Pawlik, 23,7 g, 35,8 mm, Ag, Austria (2018) XXXVI., Hauser 5199, Horsky 3877, Peltzer 1892, Wurzbach 2562, Ex Rauch 69/2002 #3001, EF / EF
The rapid development of towns and town society in the second half of 19th century brought upon a rich social life. Its essential part were various fellowships and associations. Shooting associations count to the most prestigious ones and used to group together people interested in sport shooting. The shooting associations were organized in country shooting unions. An essential social event in 1879 was the foundation of Austrian state shooting club in Vienna. The prestige of annual union gatherings, so-called shootings, was directly derived from the social status of attendees and the shooters' reputation. Valuable rewards were prepared for the attendees, just as high financial rewards for winners in shooting disciplines. Besides tea and coffee sets and golden wrist watches, medals in various sizes and from various metals were also popular commemoration objects. The choice of size and material was to indicate the social prestige and various sport achievements of the attendees. The number of minted medals usually corresponded with the number of awarded persons, the rest of medals was used as giveaways to important persons and institutions. For instance, the last three large silver medals from Olomouc shooting of 1884 the union's board gave off to the union treasury chamber, the historical museum in Olomouc and the emperor. Shooting medals immediately became popular collectional objects for their rarity and have stayed until the present time.