The flower of our soldiers' children
Features
| Location |
Belgium
 |
|---|---|
| Type | Membership medals › Donation medals |
| Year | 1917 |
| Composition | Gold plated bronze |
| Weight | 7.2 g |
| Size | 27.48 × 21.40 mm |
| Thickness | 1.96 mm |
| Shape | Other |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Number | N# 569808 |
Obverse
A woman, probably an allegory of Belgium or of the work, holds a child on her lap. Date in exergue.
Lettering: 1917
Engraver: Pierre Theunis
Reverse
A bouquet of roses surrounded by the legend, with the issuer's name in six lines below.
Lettering:
LA FLEUR DES ENFANTS DE NOS SOLDATS
ŒUVRE DE
L'HABILLEMENT DES
ORPHELINS DE NOS SOLDATS
ET DES
ENFANTS DES MUTILES
Edge
Smooth with no lettering.
Comments
In 1917, the war had been going on for three years. The situation for war orphans and the children of cripples was dramatic. The Allied blockade and German requisitions made everything scarce, including fabrics. This plate is a collection badge or metal "receipt" offered in exchange for a substantial donation (probably more than a franc, as it is made of metal). The money collected was used to buy or make clothes for these children. The obverse of the plate depicts a scene of "patriotic maternity": a woman, an allegory of Belgium or of L'Œuvre, bends over a child sitting on her lap. On the reverse, the bouquet of roses symbolizes filial and maternal love (the charity's protection of orphans). It's a central motif of Art Nouveau, which was so fond of flowers...
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| Date | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undetermined | |||||||||||||||
| 1917 | |||||||||||||||
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Numista Rarity index: 94
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.
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