Historical Objects / Medals

Collection of Tyler Yates

First anniversary of the opening of the first continuous rail line between Antwerp and Cologne

Engraver:
Laurent Joseph Hart
Year:
1843
Country:
Belgium
Diameter:
74 mm
Obverse:
The rivers Escaut and Rhine, personified as old men, holding hands and looking at each other. Around the men are reeds and other aquatic plants. Both men are also crowned with marine plants. Each man holds an urn that is pouring water onto the ground. Each urn is labelled with the name of the river. On the left, in the background, is Antwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady. On the right, in the background, is the Cathedral of Cologne.
JONCTION DE L'ESCAUT ET DU RHIN PAR CHEMIN DE FER
ESCAUT
RHIN
ANVERS 13 OCTOBRE 1843
VERACHTER DIR.
HART FECIT
Reverse:
An anchor with a rope wrapped around it. Two escutcheons flank the anchor. The left represents Cologne and the right represents Antwerp.
UNION DE COLOGNE ET D'ANVERS PREMIER ANNIVERSAIRE 13 OCTOBRE 1844

Struck to commemorate a feast held in Antwerp to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the first continuous rail line between Antwerp and Cologne. The authorities and trade authorities of the Rhineland provinces were invited to this feast.

Interestingly, the anniversary actually fell on the 15th of October, not the 13th.