Lutheran Church Dedication in Jerusalem

CNG 99, Lot: 1154. Estimate $3000. Sold for $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Deutsches Kaiserreich. Wilhelm II. 1888-1918. Æ Plaquette (108x64mm, 130.70 g, 12h). Commemorating the Dedication of the Erlöserkirche (Lutheran Church of the Redeemer) in Jersusalem of Reformation Day 1898 by the Kaiser. Manufactured by Otto Rohloff, Berlin. Dated 31 October 1898. Draped half-length bust of Kaiser right, wearing his Paradeuniform; WILHELM II/DEVτSCHER KAISER in two lines below; all within ornate altar-like frame inscribed XXXI • X • MDCCCIIC • at top; all surmounted by imperial crown within scalloped apse set within stylized Jerusalem skyline / Erlöserkirche set on olive tree wth architectural elements at base; ERLŒSЄR-/KIRCHE ZV/IERVSA-/LEM in four lines above; Christogram to left, Cross of Jerusalem to right; all within altar-like frame surmounted by incuse floral design set within stylized Jerusalem skyline. Edge: O. ROHLOFF/BERLIN in two lines. Cf. Forrer VIII, p. 168. EF, even light brown surfaces. Comes with original, but slightly damaged, purple leather presentation box decorated with cold linear border and imperial crown. Very rare.

Designed by the sculptor-engraver Otto Rohloff (1863-1919), this medal, complete with its purple leather case bearing a gold imprint of the German Imperial crown, was issued to commemorate the dedication of the Erlöserkirche (Lutheran Church of the Redeemer) in Jersusalem on Reformation Day (31 October) 1898. Only a limited number were created and were intended to be presented to high-level German and Turkish dignitaries who attended the ceremonies by the Kaiser and Kaiserin. The ceremony was part of Kaiser Wilhelm’s 1898 Palästinareise, a diplomatic tour in which the German emperor hoped to show support for the Ottoman Sultan in the wake of the Balkan crisis, establish a stronger Protestant influence in the region, and tacitly encourage the settlement of German Christian and Jewish settlers in the Holly Land.