K-133

THE MOBILIZATION OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMY (Kaiser Franz Joscph, Österreichische Mobilmachung)

1914 Cast Bronze Portrait Medallion, 83.6mm, Wt.164.46g, Frankenhuis 289.

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Obverse: Bust of Emperor Francis Joseph I., left. In border, „ICH HADE ALLES GEPRUEFD UN ERWOGEN — 28. JULI 1914" (I have tried and weighed everything — July 28, 1914).

Reverse: Two-headed eagle with spread wings. In border, "MIT RULHIGEM GEWISSEN BETRETE ICH DEN WEG, DEN DIE PFLICHT MIR WEIST" (With pure conscience I start on the road which duty prescribes me).

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This is the first of a number of medals and medallions classified within the Goetz "satirical series" that don't really present itself as an actual 'satirical' but rather, as a commemorative. For all intents and purposes, this series should be referenced by Goetz' original series name "World War, Revolutions-Commemorative Coins and Mockery Medals". See further discussion about this in; The Times>WWI section of the website.

*There is ongoing discussion regarding a suite of cast lead pieces discovered among the Johann Max Böttcher collection. No doubt they were produced from authentic moulds or models but are they aftercasts made to order specifically for Böttcher by Guido Goetz? There was no reason for Goetz to produce lead examples during the normal casting process. See further discussion regarding this topic in ; The Process>Casting section of this website.