BRITISH, Hanover. Victoria, 1837-1901. Uniface Cast Plaquette (Bronze, 75x56 mm, 115.85 g, 12 h), on Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), engravers error with 'MONTEFIRE' instead of 'MONTEFIORE', uncertain mint, no date (circa 1880-1900). SIR MOSES MONTEFIRE Draped and capped bust of Moses Montefiore to right. Rev. Blank. Wurzbach -. Apparently unpublished. Some scratches, otherwise, extremely fine.



This intriguing plaquette remains a numismatic enigma. The portrait is unmistakably that of the Sephardic Jewish businessman and philanthropist Moses Montefiore, while its style suggests a date in the late 19th or early 20th century. Beyond that, however, virtually everything about the piece remains a mystery.

Neither the occasion for which it was created - perhaps Montefiore’s death - nor the identity of the medallist can be determined, and its place of origin is equally uncertain, with Britain, France, Austria, and Germany all conceivable possibilities. Particularly curious is the misspelling of Montefiore’s name as ‘Montefire.’ The inscription appears to have been added only later to what was probably an originally anepigraphic cast plaquette. The piece may well represent an advanced artist’s model for a medal that, for reasons unknown, was never actually issued.