GERMANY. Hamburg. Medal 1868 (Silver, 45 mm, 35.90 g, 12 h), on the founding of the Oppenheimer Foundation. By H. Lorenz. HIRSCH BEREND OPPENHEIMER Draped bust of Hirsch Bernd Oppenheimer facing slightly to right. Rev. OPPENHEIMER'S STIFTUNG / AM KRAIENKAMP. / ZUM ANDENKEN / AN DIE GRÜNDUNG / 1868 Exterior view of the Oppenheimer Foundation's Buildings. Gaedechens 2139. Stern 110. Wolf VI. Rare in silver and with beautiful iridescent toning. Tiny marks on the obverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.



The Oppenheimer Foundation was founded in Hamburg in 1868 by the merchant and banker Hirsch Berend Oppenheimer (1794-1870) to provide free housing for poorer members of the city’s Jewish community.

Firmly rooted in Orthodox Judaism, it combined charitable support with religious life and included its own synagogue, where services were conducted according to traditional Orthodox practice. After relocating to a larger building on Kielortallee in 1908 (see Lot 513 below), the synagogue later served as an important place of worship for Hamburg’s revived Jewish community after 1945.