1918 Bronze Art Medal Ypres & Yser Battles By Charles Samuel in Original Box
Description: A nice large bronze commemorative medal dated 1918. The medal, which measures ~70 millimeters, commemorates the battles of Ypres and Yesr which took place during world war I in Belgium. The obverse of the medal shows a soldier holding a rifle standing in front of city ruins with the word "YPRS" along the edge at 1 o'clock and the roman number "XCMXVIII" for 1918 below the image. There is a circle to the left of the image with the initials MA inside it. The reverse shows an allegorical bearded man pouring water from a vessel, representing the rive Yser, with a soldier kneeling while holding a rifle to the left and another standing to the right again holding a rifle. There are plants in the background and the name CH. SAMUEL engraved bottom right. The medal comes in its original round and felt lined cardboard box, which is still OK but one of its edges or lid lips is partially separating from the top. The edge of the medal is plain and unmarked. A handsome medal, which would make a worthy addition to any collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Additional Information: The Battle of Ypres was a series of engagements during the First World War, near the Belgian city of Ypres, between the German and the Allied armies (Belgian, French, British Expeditionary Force and Canadian Expeditionary Force). During the five engagements, casualties may have surpassed one million. Battle of the Lys (7 – 29 April 1918) also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres. Around 200,000 casualties. The Fifth Battle of Ypres, also called the Advance in Flanders and the Battle of the Peaks of Flanders is an informal name used to identify a series of World War I battles in northern France and southern Belgium from late September to October 1918. The victory at the battle of Yser (name of the river near Ypres) allowed Belgium to retain a small strip of territory, with Germany in control of 95 per cent of Belgian territory, which made King Albert a Belgian national hero, sustained national pride, and provided a venue for commemorations of heroic sacrifice for the next hundred years. The Belgian Army held their positions along the Yser river for the remainder of the war.
Date: 1918.
Origin: Belgium.
Artist: Charles Samuel.
Weight and Size: The medal weighs ~107.5 grams, is ~70 millimeters in diameter.
Maker: Unknown.
Marks: Has the name CH. SAMUEL engraved bottom right of the reverse for Charles Samuel. It also has a circle to the top left of the obverse with the letters MA interwound. Reference: The only example we were able to identify in at the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Maine with accession number DSC03968.
Condition: I would grade this medal as about uncirculated or much better. The medal shows minimum wear, some scratching, and a minimum marking to the surface. The medal has a nice patina, with a matte gold toning. The edge of the medal is plain and is unmarked. The medal comes in its original round and felt lined cardboard box, which is still OK but one of its edges or lid lips is partially separating from the top. A beautiful medal, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information and to appreciate the beauty of the piece.
