SWITZERLAND. Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (Swiss Confederation). Medal 1886 (Bronze, 60 mm, 114.77 g, 12 h), on Colonel Emile Frey (1838-1922), Federal Councilor (1890-1897) and ambassador of Switzerland to the United States. Dies by G. Hantz. COLONEL EMILE FREY. CONSEILLER FÉDÉRALE. Draped bust of Colonel Emile Frey turned slightly to left. Rev. MINISTRE SUISSE À WASHINGTON. / 1882-1886 Coat of arms of Basel and of Basel Landschaft in front of a canon and a Swiss flag; to left, oak tree; to lower right, arms; in the background, castle with mountains behind. Winterstein 401c. A few light deposits, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Emil Johann Rudolf Frey was a Swiss soldier and politician who served as a volunteer in the Union Army in the American Civil War, where he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the acting colonel of the 82nd Illinois Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Unfortunately for him, he was captured on the first day of the battle and held in Confederate captivity until being exchanged for a Confederate Captain one and a half year later. In Switzerland, he was welcomed as a war hero and entered politics, first on a cantonal, and then on a national level. In 1882-1886, Frey served as Switzerland's ambassador to the United States, and in 1890, he was elected to the Swiss Federal Council, the Swiss cabinet, where he served until 1897.