Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2019 ANA - Sess. A-C 14 & 16 Aug 2019
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SWITZERLAND. Basel. "Mother Hen" Medallic Taler, ND (ca. 1650). NGC MS-62.
Schwartz-1169; Ewig-808. 41.3 mm. Obverse: City view of Basel with arms of the city below; Reverse: Mother hen with four chicks around her (no city view in the background), in exergue "ALIT ET PRO TEGIT". A fascinating and rare medal, size and styled as a taler. Unsigned, but very similar to another "Mother Hen" signed by F. Fechter (see the Redwood Collection sale August 2016). Not only is this rare, but fascinating as well. The "Mother Hen" sold in the Redwood Collection sale realized nearly $9,000; however, it was a different type with signed dies. The general layout with mother and chicks was the same, but the city view side was completely different and there was no background city view behind the poultry family unit. It's difficult to say which variant is rarer, but the Redwood piece had a magnificent strike on both sides. This appears to be diagnostically weaker on some city view side details, yet the hen and chicks are beautifully feathered. Showcasing the same wonderful rainbow toning with green, blue, red and golden hues throughout that were prevalent in our Rockaway Collection sale. Outstanding eye appeal overall.
From the Downing Collection
Schwartz-1169; Ewig-808. 41.3 mm. Obverse: City view of Basel with arms of the city below; Reverse: Mother hen with four chicks around her (no city view in the background), in exergue "ALIT ET PRO TEGIT". A fascinating and rare medal, size and styled as a taler. Unsigned, but very similar to another "Mother Hen" signed by F. Fechter (see the Redwood Collection sale August 2016). Not only is this rare, but fascinating as well. The "Mother Hen" sold in the Redwood Collection sale realized nearly $9,000; however, it was a different type with signed dies. The general layout with mother and chicks was the same, but the city view side was completely different and there was no background city view behind the poultry family unit. It's difficult to say which variant is rarer, but the Redwood piece had a magnificent strike on both sides. This appears to be diagnostically weaker on some city view side details, yet the hen and chicks are beautifully feathered. Showcasing the same wonderful rainbow toning with green, blue, red and golden hues throughout that were prevalent in our Rockaway Collection sale. Outstanding eye appeal overall.
From the Downing Collection
Ex: Rockaway Collection (Stack's Bowers 1/2015) Lot 1733 @ $4,406.25.
Estimate: $3000.00- $5000.00