Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777) earned a medical degree at Leyden University in 1727. He was a Swiss anatomist and physiologist who first gained fame as a poet. In 1736, he was appointed Professor of Anatomy, Botany and Medicine at the University of Göttingen. His physiologic conclusions were based on his anatomic dissections. He differentiated nerve fibers, which mediated sensation from muscle fibers revealing irritability. He advanced Harvey’s concept of blood circulation with his vascular injection technics. In 1756, he returned to Switzerland where he held several administrative positions. Haller was a voluminous writer. Particularly noteworthy is his eight volume textbook of anatomy, published between 1743-56; Elements of Human Physiology, published between 1757-66; and Swiss Flora, published in 1768.
- Medal
Bronze. France 1821. Signed. Posthumous.
- Size
41 mm
- Artist
Armand Auguste Caque (1793-1881) French medallist Armand Auguste Caque (1793-1881) French medallist and engraver. He started as an engraver at the Mint of Hague (1817-1818), became the engraver to the Imperial Cabinet of Napoleon III (1853-1868); he contributed to
- Obverse
Clothed bust to right, with short natural hair [not the customary peruke]; shirt collar open and turned back over coat collar; in a curve at left and right, ALBERTUS HALLER; below, CAQUE * F *
- Reverse
NATUS / BERNÆ / IN HELVETIA / AN. M.DCC.VIII. / OBIIT / AN.M.DCC.LXXVII. in six parallel lines; in exergue, SERIES NUMISMATICA / UNIVERSALIS VIRORUM ILLUSTRIUM in two lines and below another mark, M DCCC XXI [1821], and below, in a curve DURAND EDIDIT.
- Ref
Freeman 225; Storer 1447
