GERMANY. Uncertain region, 18th century. Medal (Gold, 41 mm, 16.65 g, 12 h). DER / HERR LASSE / DICH WIE / EPHRAIM U MENASCHE / WERDEN / DER / HERR LASSE / DICH WIE / RAHEL U LEA / WERDEN in ten lines within wreath. Rev. Two men bestowing a blessing upon a boy and a girl. Goppel -. Apparently unique and unpublished save for its previous auction appearances. Slightly bent, some marks and tiny deposits on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.



Both the maker and the provenance of this intriguing medal remain a mystery. Its stylistic features point to the eighteenth century, while its Jewish context is immediately apparent. The first five lines of the obverse echo the traditional Sabbath blessing bestowed upon sons, drawn from Genesis 48:20, whereas the following five lines invoke the customary blessing for daughters, derived from Ruth 4:11.

By combining both formulas, the medal appears to express a broader blessing for family and posterity. Similar blessings are known from a variety of Jewish objects, including medals, amulets, and gifts presented in connection with circumcisions and weddings.