ITALY. Aero Club d'Italia Medal

ITALY. Bronze Award Medal. Issued circa 1925. For the Aero Club d'Italia (70mm, 148.04 g, 12h). By Stefano Johnson in Milan. Personification of Victory flying left, head right, holding victoriola and wreath; inbackground, biplane and hot air balloon to left, monoplane and dirigible to right; at ground level, outline of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia; all within chorded and wreathed border / AERO CLVB D'ITALIA, eagle facing inflight, with banner in beak, club logo above, cartouche for inscription below; all within chorded and wreathed border. Edge: Plain. Gem Mint State. Charming red-brown surfaces, exceptional artistry and relief. A large andimpressive piece.

Highly detailed and ornate, this attractive unengraved award medal was created by Stefano Johnson, known to US collectors for his series Columbian Expo medals—intensely beautiful issues in their own right.

To read the complete item description, see:
100315 | ITALY. Bronze Award Medal (http://numismagram.com/product-page/100315)

ETHIOPIA. Ethio-Djibouti Railway Medal

ETHIOPIA. Menelik II bronze Medal. Dated EE 1895 (1903). Commemorating the Opening of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway (32mm, 16.32 g, 12h). By J. C. Chaplain and H. Patey in Paris. Crowned and draped bust right / Steamlocomotive left. Edge: Plain; with ball suspension and suspension ring. Barac 4; Gill M41. Choice Mint State. Pleasing matte brown surfaces. Attractive and interesting.

The railway between Djibouti City (in Djibouti) and Dire Dawa (in Ethiopia) was completed in 1903, allowing for a rapid expanse in the former and a virtual French enclave in the latter. Further expansion to the lineincluded the eventual terminus at the capital of the Ethiopian empire, Addis Ababa, 784 km (487 miles) inland from the Port of Djibouti.

To read the complete item description, see:
100325 | ETHIOPIA. Menelik II bronze Medal. (http://numismagram.com/product-page/100325)