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Hungary - 1808

Kingdom Of Hungary Blind Institute Prague

Obverse:

An angel, right, holds the hand of a child while approaching clouds where rays emanate.
On the ground I. W. L.

Legend:

DER HERR BEFAHL DEN ENGELN DICH ZU SCHÜTZEN
(The Lord commanded the angels to protect you)

Exergue:

INSTIUT ZU PRAG / 1808

Size:

52 mm.

Reverse:

DER / BLINDEN LIGHT / RELIGION / UND / TUGEND
(Of blind, light, religion and virtue)

Vern's Comments:

Holed for suspension.

This is a medal for an institute that never was! To clarify, it's a medal for an idea that didn't come to fruition for another twenty plus years.

In 1807 a few individuals came to the conclusion that an Institute was needed to address the needs of the blind. How they chose Prague as the site is rather sketchy but within a year a talented engraver by the name of Joesph Nikolas Lang had been recruited to produce this medal. The actual Institute came about in 1844. I wasn't able to gather a lot of details of the group's activities in the interim period but they derived some of their funding when a collapsed bridge over the river Vlatava got its funds diverted.

Kingdom Of Hungary Blind Institute Prague