Pre-Long Beach Auction #81

France, Second Zionist Congress Medal (1898) by Samuel Beer. The rare 2nd Zionist Congress commemorative medal is 63mm, 111 gm. It was designed by Samuel Friedrich Beer, and struck in bronze in Paris. Beer (1846-1912) was a well known Jewish sculptor and medallist, and a personal friend of Herzl. Daniel Friedenberg considers this medal to be "one of the most important Jewish medals ever struck". The obverse depicts an allegorical figure pointing to a new dawn/horizon for the Jewish people, and the reverse features a Biblical quotation (in stylized Hebrew), a prophecy, from the Book of Ezekiel (Yekhezkel) "Behold and I take the sons of Israel from among the nations and I have brought them to their land."

This example has a problem-free obverse with no signs of rubbing, but there are scattered dings in the reverse field. Overall, an attractive and very desirable example of one of the most important Judaic medals ever made. Estimated Value $850 - 1,000