Christian Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) earned a medical degree at Berlin University in 1852. He began his career with a junior surgical appointment in Berlin. In 1860, he was named Professor and Director of the Surgery Clinic in Zurich, and later went to Vienna where he accepted similar positions. He participated in the Franco-Prussian war, where he successfully advocated for better evacuation and treatment of the wounded. Billroth did early research on the bacterial contamination of surgical wounds, diseases of the breast, and surgical techniques, as well as medical history. He was a talented amateur musician and a close friend of Johannes Brahms. Brahms dedicated two string quartets to Billroth.
- Size
29 mm
- Artist
Edwin Grienauer (1893-1964), Austrian medallist Edwin Grienauer (1893-1964), Austrian medallist and sculptor from Vienna, known for design of commemorative and regular coins; winner of numerous awards. His medallic work is dominated by award medals of national institutions and prizes for sport events. (Wikipedia, 2014)
- Obverse
In a curve, at top, REPUBLIK, and at bottom, ∙ OESTERREICH ∙ ; value 2 and SCHILLING curved below, within a circle formed by 10 shields, bearing arms of the Austrian Republic and 9 Federal Countries: Burgerlan, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Vienna, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Voraberg
- Reverse
Bust of Billroth in profile to left, in field, below line of collar engraver's signature GRIENAUER. Around along edge from bottom left THEODOR ∙ BILLROTH ∙ GEB ∙ 1829 and at bottom, inward, *1929* .
- Edge
Reeded
- Ref
Freeman 59; Storer 374c; Nilsson 71
