Chiefs of the Second World War Gold Medals
Jefes en la Segunda Guerra Acuñacois de Oro
A collection of gold medallions issued in 1959 by Banco Venezolano in Venezuela, portraying world leaders of the period.
Description
According to "The Coin Doctor" website (TCD), these medallions or "coins" were:
Struck for the Banco Italo-Venezolana by Karlsruhe Mint in Baden Germany in 1957 & 1959. All the coins were minted in gold. They feature all the leaders of virtually every country that was involved in World War II. They are titled in Spanish: "JEFES EN LA SEGUNDA GUERRA" (Chiefs of the Second War) The coins were made in 20 Bolivares size (.900 fine gold, .1736 troy ounce pure), 60 Bolivares (.900 fine gold, .6430 troy ounce pure). Both sizes were minted in
1957.
While this was informative, we are surprised that this website should call these pieces "coins" when they bear no denomination, and are clearly medals or medallions, and also despite also being referred to as coins (actually coinages) on the leather folder and in the booklet.
The information about sizes also surprises us, as the Venezuelan gold Reform Coinage, issued from 1875 to 1990 (albeit with anomalies), was struck at 32.250 grams gross of 900 Fine gold = 100 Bolivares (AGW = 0.9334). This would make a 20 Bolivares 6.4516 grams gross with an AGW of 0.1867 troy ounces, and a 60 Bolivares 19.3548 grams gross with an AGW of 0.5601 troy ounces.
The set of medallions we currently own weigh 15.00 grams each, as stated on their reverses. Although this is closer to the large size as quoted on the TDC website, it is not convincingly close, which may mean that at least three different sizes were issued, plus the single large specimen which TCD also refers to. We think it is more likely that sets were issued in only two different sizes, and that the contributor on TCD site is confused.
From 1975, presumably because of inflation or devaluation, a series of gold Bolivares coins were issued at 1,000 Bolivares = 33.4370 grams gross, which is even further removed from the apparent standards assumed by TCD.
Booklet - Five Languages
The booklet which accompanies the collection rune to 40 pages, and contains historical summaries of 14 of the leaders, each in 5 languages, Spanish, English, Italian, French, and German. We note that the Smithsonian Institution in Washington owns a copy of the booklet.
How Many?
An interesting feature of this collection is that the booklet clearly shows and identifies 14 leaders, while the leather case states 18, but we note that the gold foil blocking is actually an "overdate", there is a figure 4 underneath the 8, so it looks as though an extra 4 leaders were added during the production run of the medals.
Mystery Man
On th inside back cover of the leather wallet containing the set, there is a rather faded looking photograph showing all 18 medals, which include one for the missing mystery man, Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim, who was Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces and the sixth President of Finland at the relevant time.
Edge
The edges are milled.
Technical Specifications
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Description | Diameter | Weight | Fineness | AGW
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Chiefs of the Second World War Gold Medals, Each | 30.25 | 15.00 | .900 | 0.4340
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Set of 14 Medallions | | 210 | .900 | 6.08
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Set of 15 Medallions | | 225 | .900 | 6.51
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Set of 18 Medallions | | 270 | .900 | 7.81
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Notes
Diameter = Diameter in millimetres.
Weight = Gross weight in grams.
Fineness = Alloy = millesimal fineness, and carats.
AGW = Gold Content = Fine gold content in troy ounces.
Prices & Availability
We are always happy to buy and sell gold medals and medallions. Prices fluctuate according to a number of factors including gold bullion prices, condition, supply and demand.
Please contact us if there is a gold medallion you wish to buy or sell.
Currently we would ask 50% premium over gold for a single medallion, as this would entail us splitting a set. For a complete set, we would be happy to accept 10% premium over spot gold.
Price & Availability
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Number | Leader | Grade | Availability | Price £ | Price $ | Price €
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1 | Sir Winston Spencer Churchill | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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2 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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3 | Harry Truman | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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4 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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5 | Joseph Stalin | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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6 | Benito Mussolini | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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7 | Adolf Hitler | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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8 | Hideki Tojo | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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9 | Erwin Rommel | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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10 | H. Philippe Petain | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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11 | Charles de Gaulle | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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12 | Bernard L. Montgomery | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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13 | Douglas Mac Arthur | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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14 | Chiang Kai-Shek | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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15 | MacKenzie King | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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16 | Vitorio Emanuele III | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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17 | Josip Broz Tito | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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18 | Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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Set of 14 | | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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Set of 15 | | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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Set of 18 | | Proof, About FDC | No | £Ask | $Ask | €Ask
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Order Form
Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10,
Insured Shipping $20
Canada Airmail $15,
Insured Shipping $30
Medals & Medallions Wanted
We make an active market in almost all world coins, medals, medallions, gold or otherwise, also gold coins of Venezuela. If you have any of these to sell, please contact us, or post them to us for appraisal and offer.
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Sir Winston Spencer Churchill on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Gold Medals Index
Venezuela
Reverse of Venezuelan Chiefs of the Second World War Gold Medals
Franklin D. Roosevelt on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Harry Truman on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim on Finland Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Benito Mussolini on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Adolf Hitler on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Hideki Tojo on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Erwin Rommel on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
H. Philippe Petain on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Charles de Gaulle on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Bernard L. Montgomery on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Douglas Mac Arthur on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Chiang Kai-Shek on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
MacKenzie King on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Vitorio Emanuele III on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Josip Broz Tito on Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medal
Leather Case for Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medals
Front Cover of Historic Summary Booklet for Venezuelan Chiefs of WWII Gold Medals
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