The Middle Eastern Theater of World War I

CNG 93, Lot: 1919. Estimate $500. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Kaiserreich. 1871-1918. Cast Iron Medal (57mm, 57.43 g, 12h). The Awakening of Egypt. By K. Goetz. Dated 1915. SIR GREY ZEIG’DEINE MACHT! (Sir Grey, show your strength!”), facing bust of Sir Edward Grey (1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon), with a concerned look on his face and clasping his hands together in supplication; behind, Death (as a skeleton) whispering into his ear and holding an hourglass over his other shoulder / Sphinx right, head left, upon ground line inscribed ÄGYPTEN/ERWACHT (Egypt awakens) in two lines; in background, the star and crescent (the Ottoman Empire) over the pyramids, with Ottoman troops rallying. Kienast 166. Choice EF, sharply defined dark gray surfaces.

Ex Westfälische Auktionsgesellschaft 55 (29 November 2010), lot 2323.

Following the defeat of Egyptian forces in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882, Great Britain occupied the former Ottoman province, though the latter empire still claimed suzerainty even after Egypt was declared a British protectorate in 1914. In order to formally reinstate their influence in the region, Ottoman forces attacked British forces in Egypt the following year, with powers during the first world war starting to align themselves. This particular medal was a jab by Goetz at Sir Edward Grey, then British Foreign Secretary, urging him to stand up to the rising unrest against the British occupation of the region.