Description
This table medal honors Fürst Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898). He served as Chancellor from the 1860’s under first König (later Kaiser) Wilhelm I until he was dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1890.
Bismarck was a master politician who transformed Prussia from Germany’s single largest state to its dominant power. His manipulations eventually led Germany to become one of Europe’s major players. A favorite von Bismarck quote of mine is “Not by speeches and votes of the majority, are the great questions of the time decided . . . but by iron and blood.” From this, he became known as the “Iron” Chancellor.
The table medal is bronze-toned and measures 1 ½” in diameter. The obverse features von Bismarck’s uniformed, high-relief profile. The dedication around its edge refers to fifty years of service to Prussia and the reich (1835-1885). The reverse depicts Bismarck’s Coat-of-Arms and refers to his 70th birthday. The table medal is in excellent condition for being more than one-hundred-twenty-five years-old.
