Johann Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805), received a medical degree in 1780. He was one of the most famous German poets and dramatists. Upon graduation from a military academy, he was appointed physician to the Wurttemberg Grenadier Regiment in Stuttgart. This position ended in 1782 and he had no further medical activity. He met Johann von Goethe (1749-1832) in 1794 and through his influence obtained an appointment as Professor of History at the University of Jena. In 1802, he was raised to nobility, but remained virtually insolvent. In his final years, he was supported by Danish nobles. An autopsy showed the cause of death to be pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Medal
Bronze. France 1821. Signed. Posthumous. Variant of commemorative medal designed for the Durand’s numismatic series of world famous people struck with erroneous (1705) death date.
- Size
40 mm
- Artist
Jean Jacques Barre (1793-1855), French medallist Jean Jacques Barre (1793-1855), French medallist and engraver. From his first success at the 1819 Exhibition, he presented his medals, portraits, coins and dies regularly. He contributed his medallic works to many series (
- Obverse
Clothed bust to right; in a curve at left and right, FRIDERICUS SCHILLER; in a curve below, BARRE. F.
- Reverse
In a field, NATUS / AN. M. DCC. LIX. / MARBACHII IN / REGNO WIRTEMBERGENSI / OBIIT / AN .M. DCC.V. in six parallel lines; in exergue, SERIES NUMISMATICA / UNIVERSALIS VIRORUM ILLUSTRIUM in two lines and below shorter ornamental mark, M. DCCC. XXI. And in a curve, DURAND EDIDIT.
- Ref
Freeman 473; Storer 3249
