★ Extremely Rare - AU55 NGC. ★

Greece, King Otto, 1832-1862. AR Medal, dated 1822, probably struck in 1836 and awarded in 1837, First National Assembly, by Konrad Lange, without “K. LANGE” signature, 29mm. Η ΕΛΛΑΣ ΕΥΓΝΩΜΟΝΟΥΣΑ, Epione, goddess of health with sceptre and cornucopia. / ΠΡΩΤΗ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΕΛΕΥΣΙΣ, 1822, Aesculapius, husband of Epione and the god of medicine standing by the temple of Epidaurus, date below (Chase 325).

A very attractive example with strong details and relief still remaining. Medium-grey tone with underlying soft golden highlights and minor edge knock at 5 o’clock. An extremely rare and historically significant issue with the majority of examples in museum collections.

Graded AU55 NGC.

There are very few dates in history that define a nations birth and identity; the First National Assembly of Epidaurus was one of those dates for the Modern Greek state. The first meeting of the Greek National Assembly, a political gathering of revolutionaries opened in December 1821 at Piada, today known as New Epidaurus. The majority of the representatives were local notables and clergymen from the Peloponnese, Central Greece, and the Islands. The Assembly adopted a number of important documents, including a Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire and the first draft of the modern Greek Constitution of 1822. The Assembly also elected a five-member executive on 15 January 1822, which was presided over by Alexandros Mavrokordatos and appointed the first government of eight ministers. The medal was struck posthumously by King Otto in 1836 at the newly opened Athens mint and awarded in 1837. It exists with and without the signature of engraver K. LANGE. According to references, it is believed that a total of 64 such medals were awarded to 44 individuals and to 20 families of the deceased.