Watch List notes:

GERMANY, Kaiserreich. Wilhelm II. 1888-1918. AR Medal (60mm, 109.71 g, 12h). On the Official Opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal at Kiel, 20 June 1895. By F. Herter and O. Schultz. Above, bust of Kaiser Wilhelm I right, coats-of-arms on oak and laurel; below, busts of Kaisers Fridrich III and Wilhelm II vis-à-vis, set on palm fronds with imperial coat-of-arms / beg : 1887 (rosette) NORD OST-SEE-CANAL (rosette) 1895 volld :, personification of the North Sea left, wearing crown, holding harpoon, and surrounded by seal, oyster, and lobster, shaking hand with personification of Baltic Sea, holding net and surrounded by fish; in background lighthouse to left and right; F. HERTER SC. and O. SCHULTZ F.; all set on ornate coat-of-arms with banner inscribed NAVIGARE NECESSE EST. Marienburg 7012 var. (issue in bronze); Lange 1363a. Toned, a few marks and hairlines. EF. Very rare.

Originally, only 56 specimens were struck in silver. Of these, 50 were given by the Kaiser to royal guests in attendance; the remaining six were given to the Kaiserin's cabinet and the Rechsamt des Innern (Imperial Office of the Interior). An addition three medals were subsequently ordered for the Kronprinz and the Duke of Sachsen-Altenburg