Photo Credit: terranumis
1904 Society for Horticulture of France silver medal for A Cauchois mushrooms
Buy It Now Price: $199.99 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This is a stunning vermeil (gold plating over sold silver) medal awarded in 1904 to Monsieur Alphonse Cauchois for prize mushrooms by the French National Horticulture Society.
-The medal features a semi-nude, female personification of horticulture on the obverse and a wreath with presentation inscription on the reverse.
-This medal is very large, measuring 58 millimeters (2.28 inches) in diameter and weighing 87.5 grams (2.81 troy ounces). It is hallmarked on the edge with a cornucopia – indicating the piece was struck at the Paris mint – and the French word “Argent” (silver).
-The silver medal comes with its antique, custom-fit box and also the original horticulture award document! The combination of these two accessories is extraordinary and boosts the medal’s value significantly.
-The style of this medal is nothing short of magnificent. The classical design is rendered in stunningly high relief, particularly the agricultural-themed wreath on the reverse. Grapes, pumpkins, squash and flowers delight the eye as they burst from the wreath. This is among the finest pre-World War I French art medals that I have seen.
-The silver medal was designed by the well-known French sculpture and engraver Alfred Borrel. Born in 1836 and dying in 1927, he was artistically active from the mid 19th century to the very early 20th century.
– The $200 asking price is downright cheap considering the exceptional design and condition of the medal, along with the original case and supporting document.
Cons:
-The subject matter of horticulture – and mushrooms in particular – has relatively modest popularity in collecting circles. This could potentially limit the desirability of the piece. However, the medal is so superior in every other way that I don’t believe this is a major drawback.
-Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell from the hallmarks whether this piece is French 1st standard (950 fine silver) or 2nd standard (800 fine silver). This concern is more or less academic because the difference in bullion value between the two standards is only $6.32 for the medal (with spot silver at $15 a troy ounce).
-There are even larger French silver medals available. A general rule of thumb with art medals is the bigger the better, all else being equal. This is not much of a con though. At 87.5 grams, this medal is already very large and very impressive.
