GERMANY. Sachsen, Thüringen und Schlesien (Śląsk). Cast Medal 1772 (Tin, 37 mm, 14.71 g, 12 h), so-called 'Kornjudenmedaille' on the famine and high grain prices. By J. C. Reich. DV KORN IVDE. // THEURE ZEIT / 1624:1772 Jewish merchant advancing right, holding a hiking stick in his right hand a ripped grain sack being ridden by Satan over his left shoulder. Rev. Bushel measure inscribed WER / KORN INNE / HAELT, / DEM / FLUCHEN / DIE / LEU: / TE, // ABER / SEGEN / KOMT / ÜBER / DEN, / DER ES / VER: / KAUFT; below, SPRUCH:SALOM: / XI:26. Brettauer -. Fieweger -. Kirschner 21. Rare. Traces of mounting and minor marks, otherwise, good very fine.



The date 1624 on the obverse is difficult to explain. Medals of this type normally refer to the famine and soaring prices of 1694 and accordingly bear that date.

The date 1624 may simply be an engraver’s error. Alternatively, it may have been chosen deliberately as an allusion to the severe currency debasement of the Kipper und Wipper period during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). This interpretation is not entirely convincing, however, since the Kipper und Wipper crisis reached its height between 1620 and 1622.