Calviniana

Calvin July 24th, 2007

This uniface plaquette was produced in bronze in 1909. It is 51mm by 39mm in dimension and was done by the German company Mayer & Wilhelm of Stuttgart to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Calvin’s birth. It has a left-facing bust of Calvin with an inscription reading: JEAN CALVIN | 1509-1564. M & W St. (the producer of this commemorative) is inscribed under the shoulder. This is a rare piece and not easily found. There also exists a similar piece commemorating the life and work of Martin Luther.

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Calvin July 24th, 2007

Jean Henri Merle d’Aubigne (1794-1872) was a Swiss Protestant minister and historian of the Reformation. He was born in Geneva of prominent Huguenot parents. His greatest early influence was the Scottish preacher and missionary, Robert Haldane. Whilst in Geneva, Haldane invited some of the theology students from the Geneva Academy (founded by Calvin and Beza in 1569) to attend a Bible study in his apartment. The Bible was no longer used in theological studies as the Academy had become a bastion of Unitarianism and Socinianism. Seldom, if ever, was Christ quoted in his classes and he remarked that they were fed a steady dose of the early Greek philosophers.

D’Aubigne recounts his conversion:

“I met Robert Haldane and heard him read from an English Bible a chapter from Romans about the natural corruption of man, a doctrine of which I had never before heard. In fact I was quite astonished to hear of man being corrupt by nature. I remember saying to Mr. Haldane, ‘Now I see that doctrine in the Bible.’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘but do you see it in your heart?’ That was but a simple question, yet it came home to my conscience. It was the sword of the Spirit: and from that time I saw that my heart was corrupted, and knew from the Word of God that I can be saved by grace alone. So that, if Geneva gave something to Scotland at the time of the Reformation, if she communicated light to John Knox, Geneva has received something from Scotland in return in the blessed exertions of Robert Haldane.”

After attending a ceremony in Hamburg in 1817 commemorating the work of Martin Luther, d’Aubigne set out to write a history of the Reformation period so that the spiritual significance of this great work of God would not be forgotten. “These volumes lay down in the chief and foremost place this simple and pregnant principle: God In History,” wrote d’Aubigne. The monumental works that then proceeded from his pen over his lifetime were History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century (5 vols. 1835-1853) and History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin (8 vols. 1862-1877). These are without a doubt the best works on the Reformation and they have seen countless editions over the years; the former set still in print to this day. He wrote knowing that every detail he recorded was controlled by the God of heaven who directs the hearts of both men and kings in whatsoever way He chooses.

Obverse: Right-facing bust of d’Aubigne encircled by the inscription reading: MERLE D’AUBIGNE and signed HUGUES BOVY 1872 below the bust. Reverse: Three famous quotations from the German, Swiss, and Scottish Reformers, of whom d’Aubigne covered in depth in his monumental historical works on the Reformation in Europe. The inscription reads:

Luther: HIER STEH ICH; ICH KANN NICHT ANDERS; GOTT HELFE MIR. AMEN; which translated means: “Here I stand; I cannnot do otherwise; God help me! Amen.”

Calvin: UN CHIEN ABAYE, S’IL VOIT QU’ON ASSAILLE SON MAISTRE; JE SEROYS BIEN LASCHE, SI EN VOYANT LA VERITE DE DIEU ASSAILLIE, JE FAISOYS DU MUET SANS SONNER MOT; which translated means: “A dog barks, if it sees that his master is attacked; I would be a coward, if by seeing the truth of God attacked, I acted as a dumb man without sounding a word.”

Knox: TAKE FROM US LIBERTY, AND YOU TAKE FROM US THE GOSPEL.

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Calvin July 24th, 2007

There is but one known medal commemorating the life and work of America’s greatest theologian, Jonathan Edwards. This Edwards medal was produced by the Medallic Art Company in 1972 for The Hall of Fame For Great Americans at New York University. It is cast in solid bronze and comes in two different sizes: 76mm and 44mm in diameter. It is 5mm thick. They would not be considered rare, but they are not commonly found.

Obverse: Left-facing bust of Edwards with inscription reading: Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758. Reverse: Image portraying the hand of a sovereign God coming out of the clouds and supporting the earth with the inscription reading: God - Head Of The Universal System On Whom All Is Dependent.

This inscription is a paraphrase from Edwards’ A Dissertation Concerning The Nature of True Virtue where he wrote:

“And all true virtue must radically and essentially, and as it were summarily consist in this. Because God is not only infinitely greater and more excellent than all other being, but he is the head of the universal system of existence; the foundation and fountain of all being and all beauty; from whom all is perfectly derived, and on whom all is most absolutely and perfectly dependent; of whom, and through whom, and to whom is all being and all perfection and whose being and beauty are, as it were, the sum and comprehension of all existence and excellence: much more than the sun is the fountain and summary comprehension of all the light and brightness of the day.”

There are so few who can write on the sovereignty of God over men and creation like Edwards. Here are a few excerpts from his writings:

“What God’s sovereignty in the salvation of men implies—it implies that God can either bestow salvation on any of the children of men, or refuse it, without any prejudice to the glory of any of his attributes, except where he has been pleased to declare, that he will or will not bestow it.”

“The glory of God eminently appears in his absolute sovereignty over all creatures, great and small. If the glory of a prince be his power and dominion, then the glory of God is his absolute sovereignty. Herein appear God’s infinite greatness and highness above all creatures. Therefore it is the will of God to manifest his sovereignty.”

“Let us, therefore, labour to submit to the sovereignty of God. God insists, that his sovereignty be acknowledged by us, and that even in this great matter, a matter which so nearly and infinitely concerns us, as our own eternal salvation. This is the stumbling-block on which thousands fall and perish; and if we go on contending with God about his sovereignty, it will be our eternal ruin. It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God, as our absolute sovereign, and the sovereign over our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and harden whom he will.”

Here is an example of the medal in silver:

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Calvin June 28th, 2007

The commemorative medal first appeared in Italy in the 15th century and was the product of sculptor and engraver, Antonio Pisanello (1395-1455). These early works featured the portrait or bust of his subject along with a description of the person’s accomplishments and/or historical significance. The art of making medals quickly spread to Germany and the rest of Europe. By the late 17th century the making of medals was seen as an important state activity with many employing their own engravers.

From the time of the Reformation to the present, there were literally thousands of medals produced commemorating those men God raised up in the midst of darkness to preach the Gospel and spread the light of Jesus Christ throughout Europe. Chief among them are the more than 2,000 known medals depicting the German Reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546). While the contributions of Luther and Calvin to the spiritual reformation of Europe are of similar importance, Calvin does not enjoy the same proliferation of medallic representations as Luther. In cataloguing the medals of John Calvin, our list (available at the link above), including major variants, would put the number at just over 80 known works; a rather large disparity. It is also important to note that the original purpose of these medals was not to produce objects of worship and veneration, as was and is the practice of Rome, but to simply commemorate those men God used as instruments in bringing people to Himself.

There are approximately 10 medals of Calvin struck during his lifetime. I only own two of these; one from 1555 and one from 1557.

This first medal was struck in bronze in 1555 and is 37mm in diameter. The sculptor is unknown and the reason for the commemoration is also a mystery. Obverse: Right-facing bust of Calvin encircled by the inscription: IO CAL GENEVENS ECCL PASTOR 1555 which translated means ‘John Calvin, Pastor of the Genevan Churches 1555.’ Under the portrait it is signed ‘H.’ but no historical record has been able to identify the medallist. Reverse: A picture of a man sowing seed encircled by the inscription: DAT DEVS INCREMENTUM, which translated means ‘God giveth the increase.’ The obvious symbolism of this commemorative was to show Calvin as a ’sower of seed,’ which God then caused to grow throughout the Reformation and beyond.

This second medal was struck two years later in 1557 in both bronze and tin (pictured) and is 60mm in diameter. This particular example was looped in order that it may be worn around the neck or easily fastened to one’s clothing. The irony of this practice is that Calvin himself would most probably have abhorred the wearing of his image, as well as the producing of such medals in the first place. This is a uniface medal with a left-facing bust of Calvin encircled by the inscription: IOANNES CALVINVS E SVAE XLVIII QVOVSQ DOMINE A 1557 which is difficult to translate but means something like ‘John Calvin, a Master at the age of 48.’

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Calvin June 6th, 2007

While many may think of the Reformers in caricature, as only sombre and austere men, no one should say they didn’t have a sense of humour! In 16th century Europe, satire was often used as a method of disseminating one’s theological views. Medallic satires helped to contribute to the progress of the Reformation along with the many robust publications denouncing Rome and exposing the nature of the Papacy.

The Protestant Princes in Germany formed the League of Schmalkald in 1531 and it was around this time that some of the earliest medals appeared with the Pope/Devil and Cardinal/Fool double-headed images. Nicholas von Amsdorf is generally credited with their design. He helped Luther translate the Vulgate into the German and was appointed the first Protestant Bishop of Naumberg in 1542. These medals circulated among Protestants in Germany, Holland, and Switzerland during the period of the repudiation of Rome by Northern Europe. Many wore or carried these medals on their person as a reminder of the persecution inflicted on those who did not acknowledge the universal dominion of the Papacy.

The cast bronze medal pictured above is one of the most common of the 180+ known variations of these satirical pieces. Obverse: the double-headed portrait of the Pope, and when rotated 180 degrees, the Devil. The inscription reads: ECCLESIA PERVERSIA TENET FACIEM DIABOLI 666, which translated means: “The perverted church has the countenance of the Devil.” Reverse: the double-headed portrait of a Cardinal, and when rotated, a Court Jester or Fool. The inscription reads: ET STVLTI ALIQVANDO SAPIENTES, which translated means: “The wise are shown to be fools.”

The Pope/Devil association most certainly was inspired by Martin Luther as this analogy was seen often in his writings. These double-headed images were not confined only to medals as they also appeared on china, pottery, gems, and personal seals.

In another example seen in cast silver above, one which is extraordinarily rare, we see a medal that utilizes different scriptural symbols in a satirical manner against Rome. This medal was profiled by H. Noel Humphreys, writing in the Once A Week Magazine, June 14th, 1862. He describes it thus:

Obverse: “The upper figure…is no doubt , the symbol of the ‘Woman of Babylon’…The book is I must think the Bible, and the seeming cross upon it is formed by the crossed keys of St. Peter, which, as a badge of Papal authority, have locked the book against the people; and that any attempt to examine it will also be resisted by the sword, if necessary…The reversed figure is the Pope holding one of the implements of the Mass, a chalice. The inscription reads: ‘FAISCHE LERE GILT NICHT MEHR MDXLIII’ which translated means ‘False doctrine no longer prevails, 1543.’ Barnard believes the chalice in the Pope’s hand is the Golden Cup of Abomination (Rev. 17:4). Reverse: A similar Cardinal/Fool image. The Fool’s head is covered with a hood and the ears of an ass protrude from it and are tipped with a bell; another bell adorns the top. The inscription reads: DES BAPST GEBOT 1ST WIDER GOT MDXLIII which translated means, ‘The Pope’s Law is Against God 1543.’”

The Reformers were not immune from the same satirical treatment. The image below is a variation of the double-headed medal using the same images and a different inscription: IOAN CALVINVS HERESIARCH PESSIMVS which translated means “John Calvin is a dangerous heretic.” Some think that the image was intended to mean that that “devil,” John Calvin, was masquerading as the Pope, but this seems unlikely. It appears as if, in a hurried attempt to counter the Protestant versions, a quick copy was cast with only the inscription being changed and the images remaining the same.

While not all the eschatological imagery may end up being correct, the message conveyed through these medals was simple: the doctrines of Rome were perverse. These are but a sampling of the many specimens known still to exist. The best work on this subject is the book by Frances Pierrepont Barnard entitled Satirical and Controversial Medals of the Reformation. The Biceps or Double-Headed Series. Clarendon Press, 1927.

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Calvin May 28th, 2007

Here is the first and only medal I will ever own minted by the Vatican, for reasons that will become apparent.

For many who love church history, just the date, August 24th, 1572, is enough to remind them of perhaps the most horrific day Christians of any age have had to endure. The slaughter that commenced on that Sunday, and continued out into the French provinces until October 3rd, saw anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 Hugenots (French Calvinists) savagely slain. The Roman backed French armies along with the Roman Catholic clergy and citizens were ruthless in their butchery, even making sure that women and children did not escape the sword. In the eyes of Rome, these heretics got what they deserved. This event in history is now commonly referred to as The St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

Once the news of the Massacre reached the Vatican, celebrations were planned. Pope Gregory XIII ordered the cannons of Castel Sant’Angelo to be fired in salute, bells to be rung for a public day of thanksgiving, bonfires to be lit, the Te Deum sung (an early Christian hymn of praise to God), and a special commemorative medal to be struck in honour of the occasion. That medal is pictured above. (Another, clearer picture is at the right as my scan was not able to capture the detail as I would have liked). The obverse features a left-facing bust of Pope Gregory with the inscription: GREGORIUS XIII PONT MAX AN I F.P. The reverse pictures an angel holding a cross and a sword perched over slain bodies with the inscription: VGONOTTORVM STRAGES 1572; translated as Hugenot Slaughter 1572.

Here is an excerpt from an eyewitness account by Francois Dubois:

“Suddenly, and without warning, the devilish work commenced. Beginning at Paris, the French soldiers and the Roman Catholic clergy fell upon the unarmed people, and blood flowed like a river throughout the entire country. Men, women, and children fell in heaps before the mobs and the bloodthirsty troops. In one week, almost 100,000 Protestants perished. The rivers of France were so filled with corpses that for many months no fish were eaten. In the valley of the Loire, wolves came down from the hills to feed upon the decaying bodies of Frenchmen. The list of massacres was as endless as the list of the dead!”

The historian Lord Acton, himself a Catholic, in 1868 wrote of the massacre:

“The story is much more abominable than we all believed…S.B. [St. Bartholomew's] is the greatest crime of modern times. It was committed on principles professed by Rome. It was approved, sanctioned, and praised by the papacy. The Holy See went out of its way to signify to the world, by permanent and solemn acts, how entirely it admired a king who slaughtered his subjects treacherously, because they were Protestants. To proclaim forever that because a man is a Protestant it is a pious deed to cut his throat in the night…”

And again:

“The papacy contrived murder and massacre on the largest and also on the most cruel and inhuman scale. They were not only wholesale assassins but they made the principle of assassination a law of the Christian Church and a condition of salvation…[The Papacy] is the fiend skulking behind the Crucifix.”

Finally, here is the picture of a mural the Pope commissioned the Italian artist Giorgio Vasari to paint to commemorate “the glorious triumph over a perfidious race.” It still hangs in the Vatican.

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Calvin May 25th, 2007

Good things are still coming out of Geneva! Jacot - Chocolatier sells reproductions of the 1835 Antoine Bovy medal in chocolate, made from the original dies. Swiss chocolate which commemorates the life of Calvin—now that’s a treat!

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Calvin May 24th, 2007

Charles Spurgeon, in Volume 2 of his Autobiography, tells of a time in the summer of 1860 when he spent an afternoon in Geneva with Dr. J. H. Merle D’Aubigne at the house of Mr. Lombard:

I am not superstitious, but the first time I saw the medal bearing the venerated likeness of John Calvin, I kissed it, imagining that no one saw the action. I was very greatly surprised when I received this magnificent present. On the one side is John Calvin with his visage worn by disease and deep thought, and on the other side is a verse fully applicable to him: ‘He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.’ This sentence truly describes the character of that glorious man of God.

This is the medal given to Spurgeon that day. It is the “king” of all Calvin numismatic commemoratives. It is a large, solid bronze piece measuring 108mm (4.25 in) in diameter. It is considered the masterpiece of the famous Swiss medallist, Antoine Bovy (1795-1877).

Obverse: Prominent left-facing bust of Calvin encircled by the inscription: JOHANNES CALVINUS NATUS NOVIODUNI 1509 MOR TUUS GENEVÆ 1564, which translated means: ‘Born Noyon 1509 Deceased Geneva 1564.’ Reverse: A gothic catedral motif encircled by an inscription reading: CORPORE-FRACTUS : ANIMO-POTENS : FIDE-VICTORE | ECCLESIÃ-REFORMATOR-GENEVà | PASTOR-ET-TUTAMEN, which translated means: ‘Weak in Flesh : Strong in Spirit : Faithful to the End | Reformer of the Genevan Church | Pastor and Protector.’ The larger fields are inscribed in French thusly: IL | TEINT | FERME | COME | S’IL | EVST VEV | CELVY | QVI | EST | INVISIBLE, which translated is the last portion of Hebrews 11:27, ‘He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.’ The two small panels on the pulpit are inscribed: HEBR. XI. 27; and signed GENEV | JVBIL | AN | 1835. The medal was cast to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the Reformation in Geneva.

Two other medals were subsequently produced using the original dies of Antoine Bovy. The first, done in 1864, was to commemorate the 300th Anniversay of Calvin’s Death. It was done by Hugues Bovy (1841-1893). It is smaller in size (60mm) and an exact replica of the larger Bovy with the inscription H.BOVY. D’APRES A. BOVY added to the obverse and the inscription 27 MAI 1864 added to the reverse side.

The second, was a restrike of the 1835 medal (108mm), and it was made to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Calvin’s birth. The Numismatic Cabinet of Geneva produced 73 specimens of this medal in aluminum (which was an extremely rare metal at the time) from the original dies. Proceeds from the sale of these medals went to benefit the Hospital Gourgas in Geneva. Being such a limited run, these medals are very rare.

Calvin’s influence on Christianity was, and still is, the greatest of anyone who wrote outside the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. By no means an overstatement of Calvin’s importance, Spurgeon continues his thoughts that were stirred that day in 1860:

Among all those who have been born of women, there has not risen a greater than John Calvin; no age before him ever produced his equal, and no age afterwards has seen his rival. In theology, he stands alone, shining like a bright fixed star, while other leaders and teachers can only circle round him, at a great distance “as comets go streaming through space” with nothing like his glory or his permanence. Calvin’s fame is eternal because of the truth he proclaimed; and even in heaven, although we shall lose the name of the system of doctrine which he taught, it shall be that truth which shall make us strike our golden harps, and sing, ‘Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever;’ for the essence of Calvinism is that we are born again, ‘not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’

I preached in the cathedral at Geneva; and I thought it a honour to be allowed to stand in the pulpit of John Calvin…I did not feel very happy when I came out in full canonicals, but the request was put to me in such a beautiful way that I could have worn the Pope’s tiara, if by so doing I could have preached the gospel more freely…It was John Calvin’s gown, and that reconciled me to the idea very much. I do love that man of God; suffering all his life long, enduring not only persecutions from without but a complication of disorders from within, and yet serving his Master with all his heart.

To those who love the doctrines of grace, we owe a great debt to John Calvin; the man God used to bring His light out of the darkness.

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Calvin May 18th, 2007

This medal is one of the most beautiful of the medallic reformation pieces ever done. It was cast in 1835 by Antoine Bovy to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the Reformation in Switzerland. It is considered extremely rare in silver and although not common in bronze, it is obtainable.

Obverse: The Seal of Geneva connecting four busts of the Swiss Reformers: John Calvin, Pierre Viret, Theodore Beza, & William Farel. The circular inscription reads: JVBIL REFORMAT RELIG GENEV TERT SEC CELEBR AVG D XXIII AN MDCCCXXXV, which translated means ‘The Celebration of the 300th Jubilee of the Relgious Reformation in Geneva 1835.’ Reverse: Two women symbolizing Faith & Reason, support a bible on a lectern beneath a radiant dove. The circular inscription reads: BIBLIA FIDEI ET RATIONI RESTITVTA, which translated means ‘The Restitution of a Rational Biblical Faith,’ and signed A. BOVY INV ET F. It is 60mm in diameter.

The four reformers commemorated:

John Calvin (1509-1564): The acknowledged leader of the Swiss Reformation in Geneva.
Pierre Viret (1511-1571): The Swiss Reformer from Lausanne.
Theodore Beza (1519-1605): Calvin’s successor in Geneva.
William Farel (1489-1565): The founder of the Reformed churches in Neuchâtel, Berne, and Geneva.

Very few in our day appreciate or even understand the impact that these men have made on Western civilization. Much of our way of life owes a debt to the freedoms gained by these men, particularly Calvin, during the Protestant Reformation in Europe.

Here is an example in bronze:

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Calvin May 18th, 2007

The Synod of Dordt was a gathering held by the Dutch Reformed Church in order to settle a serious controversy in the Dutch churches initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on November 13th, 1618, and after 154 meetings, the Synod adjourned on May 9th, 1619. Representatives from the Reformed churches in eight foreign countries were also a part of the gatherings.The Synod was held in response to the publication of The Remonstrance of 1610, a document which outlined the doctrines of James Arminius. The doctrines being taught by the Remonstrants were 1) free will or the ability of man, 2) conditional election based on foreseen faith, 3) universal atonement, 4) the resistibility of God’s grace, and 5) the ability of believers to fall away from the faith. The opposing Calvinists, led by professor Franciscus Gomarus of the University of Leiden, believed these doctrines were heretical and thus needed to be condemned as such.

At the end of the Synod a decision was reached on the five points of doctrine in dispute and the Canons of Dordt were issued. In them, the Synod upheld the scriptural teachings of 1) the total inability of man, 2) unconditional election based solely on God’s gracious will, 3) particular redemption whereby Christ secured the salvation of His people, 4) the irresistibility of God’s grace, and 5) the final perserverance of the saints unto glory. These Canons were never intended to be a comprehensive explanation of Reformed doctrine, but only an exposition on the five points of doctrine in dispute.

Each particpant, at the closing of the Synod, was given a medal to commemorate their efforts.

This first medal was given to every participant. It was cast in silver in 1619 by W. van Bijlaer and is 58mm in diameter. Obverse: Panoramic view of the long chamber at Dordrecht with the Council assembled. The inscription reads: ASSERTA RELIGIONE which means “To Defend Religion.” Reverse: Pilgrims ascend a hill, upon which is a temple representing heaven; clouds blowing wind at the travellers representing the “wind of false doctrine” that tosses to and fro (Eph. 4:14). The inscription reads: ERVNT VT MONS SION CIC IC CXIX which means “Towards Mount Zion 1619.”

This second medal was a special medal ordered to be given to the five British delegates in attendance. It was cast in silver by Cornelius Wyntjes in 1619 and is 60mm in diameter. Obverse: Dutch lion with sword; the symbol of William of Orange. The inscription reads: RELIGIONE ET IVSTICIA RESTITVTIS which means “Religion and Justice Restored.” Reverse: Crowned shield of Prince Maurice of Orange with clasped hands below. The inscription reads: RESPVBLICA DEMVM FLOREBIT UNANIMITAS which means “The Republic Set Down as One.”

The five british delegates who recieved this special medal were: George Carleton (1559-1628), Joseph Hall (1574-1657), Thomas Goad (1576-1638), John Davenant (1576-1641), Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626). As is often the case, the provenance of these medals is seldom available so I have no idea if this was presented to any of the men above.

George Mella wrote of the end of the Synod:

“The Synod closed with great solemnity…in 1619. The British delegates were thanked for the excellent work done and presented with large commemorative medals and £200 for their expenses home. The Synod also conveyed their most heartfelt thanks to King James ‘through whose godly zeal, fiery sympathy, and truly royal labour God had so often refreshed the Synod in the midst of their toil.’ The British deputies were then given a tour of the Dutch Provinces where they were given a warm welcome except in the case of Leyden, the Arminian stronghold.”

We should be thankful to God that he raised up courageous men in times past to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3); in this case, men who would give six months of their lives so that the truth of God would be upheld for the good of the people, and error struck down for the same purpose.

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Calvin May 14th, 2007

This medal, cast in both silver (pictured) and bronze in 1641, was done to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of John Calvin’s return to Geneva after his three and a half year exile. It is 58mm in diameter and was crafted by the famous German medallist, Sebastian Dadler.

Calvin was exiled form Geneva when both he and William Farel refused to serve communion on Easter Sunday to the “Libertines”; those worldly church-goers who desired to live as they pleased. In his zeal to protect the purity of the Lord’s table, Calvin exclaimed that he would rather have his blood dye the wood he stood upon than dishonour the Lord. This position led to Calvin’s ejection from the city whereupon he took up in Strasburg; a city that had taken in thousands of persecuted Christians, primarily from France. He lectured here for three and a half years and it was also here that he married Idelette de Bure.

Meanwhile, Geneva was in turmoil under the rule of the Council that asked Calvin and Farel to leave. Letters were sent to Calvin begging for his return so that order could be restored in the city. Calvin remarked in a letter to Pierre Viret on the possibility of returning to Geneva that he would rather, “submit to be crucified” or perish in some other horrible manner. But after numerous pleas, Calvin returned to the city that exiled him, to teach the gospel and bring reform to Europe through submission to the scriptures until his death in 1564.

This medal is struck in silver and is 60mm in diameter. Obverse: Right-facing bust of Calvin with inscription: IOANNES CALVINUS PICARD : NOVIODUN : ECCLES : GENEV : PASTOR; which translated means ‘John Calvin of Noyon Picardy Pastor of the Genevan Church.’ It is also signed ‘1641 SD’ beneath Calvin’s shoulder. Reverse: Woman representing fame blowing on a trumpet holding an open book encircled by the inscription: DOCTRINA & VIRTUS HOMINES POST FUNERA CLARAT; which translated means ‘Doctrine and Virtue followed after him with brilliance.’ ‘VIRTUS’ also appears on front of the plinth and signed ‘SD’ on right edge of plinth.

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Calvin May 14th, 2007

If you were to hold this medal in your hand you would be able to both see and feel how beautiful it is. It is heavy in substance with a bright lustre that few medals have; it is one of the nicest of all the Calvin commemoratives.

The medal was done by the famous Swedish medallist, Arvid Karlsteen, and the story of its origination is somewhat unusual. In 1683, the French ambassador requested Karlsteen to create a medal to commemorate Pope Innocent XI. Some time later the English ambassador came to see Karlsteen and when he saw his work on the Papal medal, suggested that he should first do a medal of that great reformer, John Calvin. Just after this visit, however, the Swedish King, Charles XI, himself a numismatist and interested in medals, came to visit Karlsteen’s workshop and upon seeing the two unfinished medals, ordered the sculptor to do a medal of Martin Luther before the two others. That request was granted and the Calvin medal was finished soon after.

It was cast in silver and tin in 1683 and is 45mm in diameter. Obverse: Right-facing bust of Calvin encircled by the inscription: IOHANNES CALVINVS. M: and signed ‘AK’ under the shoulder of bust. Reverse: A hand coming out of the clouds holding a heart beneath rays of sun with the inscription: PROMTE | ET | SINCERE | IN | OPERE | DOMINI which translated means ‘Prompt and sincere in the work of the Lord.’ This was Calvin’s motto and an apt description of how he laboured tirelessly for reformation where the Lord would have it spread.

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Calvin May 14th, 2007

Many of the medals of the Reformation were produced to commemorate the memory or significance of a specific person after their work on earth was done. Seldom do we find such pieces struck during the life of the person it was meant to memorialize. This is one such example, struck in 1543, of the man who was Martin Luther’s alter-ego, Philip Melancthon (1497-1560).

Simply put, Luther would not enjoy the reputation he has if it was not for the tireless work of Melancthon in aiding Luther in bringing reform to the church. Melancthon and Luther were friends and colleagues, with Luther the “public face” God used, and Melancthon the man behind the scenes that gave Luther his “legs.” This may be an overly-simplistic way of characterizing this friendship, but it bears noting. For those who don’t know, Melancthon was the man who systematized Luther’s theology and defended it against many of the Papists. It was also he who authored the Augsburg confession, which to this day is the standard confession of the Lutheran Church.

Although they had their disagreements, Luther highly esteemed the faithful Melancthon and in his Commentary on the Colossians (1529), Luther wrote of his friend’s abilities that, “I had to fight with rabble and devils, for which reason my books are very warlike. I am the rough pioneer who must break the road; but Master Philip comes along softly and gently, sows and waters heartily, since God has richly endowed him with gifts.” Another time Luther called Melancthon “a divine instrument which has achieved the very best in the department of theology to the great rage of the devil and his scabby tribe.”

It was said of Melancthon that he was “dwarfish, mis-shapen, and physically weak,” and one who was hardly in good health. He was one who worked hard and never craved notoriety or fame. He was used mightily of God to reform the church and a glorious example of one of those whom God uses:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. -1 Cor. 1:26-27

Embroiled in many theological disputations prior to his death, and knowing the end was nigh, he wrote of his lack of fear at the prospect of leaving for glory: “Thou shalt be delivered from sins, and be freed from the acrimony and fury of theologians”; along with, “Thou shalt go to the light, see God, look upon his Son, learn those wonderful mysteries which thou hast not been able to understand in this life.” He was asked while dying, if he wanted or needed anything to which he replied: “Nothing but heaven.” He was one who worked for God’s glory in this world, with the sole purpose of enjoying it in the next.

This silver medal was struck in 1543 by F. Hagenauer and is 39mm in diameter. Obverse: Left-facing profile of Melancthon with the inscription reading: ANNO AETATIS SVAE XLVII PHILIPPUS MELANTHON which translated means: Philip Melancthon At 47 Years Of Age. Reverse: Inscription reading: PSAL 36 | SVBIT VS ESTO | DEO E ORA EVM | ANNO | M.D.XXXXIII.

It is not known why this medal was struck but it may be significant to note that in 1543, Melancthon sided with another German Reformer, Martin Bucer, against Martin Luther in his view of the Lord’s supper, maintaining that the physical body and blood of Christ were not actually present in the elements. Perhaps some of those who held similar convictions had this medal created in order to honour a man who continued to reform the church from the pernicious heresies of Rome.

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Calvin April 2nd, 2007

July 10th, 1509, John Calvin was born in Noyon, France. Of the 80 known medals commemorating the life and work of Calvin, several were produced to remember the work of the Geneva Academy started by Calvin and Beza in 1559. The ones that follow were done in 1909 by the M. M. Jacot Guillarmod Brothers of Switzerland. [As an aside, 2009 will mark the 500th Anniversary of Calvin's birth and there are rumours at this stage that both Princeton and Calvin College will be issuing commemorative medals to mark the occasion. I'm sure others will soon announce similar plans but those are the only two known at the moment.]

This first plaquette was done in bronze and is 36mmX25mm. Obverse: Left-facing bust of Calvin with inscription: 1509-64 | CALVIN and signed A.J.G. along right edge. Reverse: Seal of Geneva with inscription: LE 5 JUILLET 1909 | LES GENEVOIS | RECONNAISSANTS ONT | CELEBRE LE 350EME | ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA | FONDATION DU COLLEGE | ET DE L’ACADEMIE | INSTITUES PAR | CALVIN which translated means: July 5, 1909, The Grateful Genevans Celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the College and Academy Insituted by Calvin. It is signed: JACOT-GUILLARMOD. FR.

This version was struck in bronze and is 24mm in diameter. Obverse: Left-facing bust of Calvin with inscription: 1509-64 | GALVIN (sic) and signed A.J.G. along back of portrait. Reverse: Seal of Geneva encircled with the Reformation motto: POST TENEBRAS LUX which means: After Darkness…Light. It is signed J. G. F. below seal.

This is a beautiful uniface plaquette made of silvered bronze which measures 40mmX28mm. Description: Left-facing bust of Calvin in circular bronze section with inscription: 350E | ANNIVRE | DU COLLEGE | INSTITUE PAR | J. CALVIN | GENEVE 1909 which translated means: 350th Anniversary of the College Instituted by J. Calvin in Geneva 1909. Signed: JACOT-GUILLARMOD FR.

This last example is a plaquette similar to the first one above which was first done in 1905 to commemorate the life of Calvin. Obverse: Left-facing bust of Calvin with inscription: 1509-64 | CALVIN and signed A.J.G. along right edge. Reverse: View of the city out of a window in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Geneva with books, branch, quill and inkwell in the foreground.

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Calvin April 2nd, 2007

The Reformer Series by the renowned Swiss medallist Jean Dassier, was a series of 24 medals commemorating the life and works of those men who brought reform to the church of Jesus Christ throughout Europe during the 16th century. The series was struck about 1725 in copper, bronze, and silver, and all pieces are 28mm in diameter; just slightly larger than what is pictured below. Each Reformer is represented in profile on the obverse side with essential details of the subject’s life in Latin on the reverse side. It is quite rare to ever find whole sets up for auction so in order to complete a set it may take a collector a number of years. The reformers in the series are:

1. John Wycliffe (1329-1384) - English Reformer and Bible translator considered the “Morning Star of the Reformation.” Posthumously declared a heretic by Papal authority, his body was exhumed and burned.

2. John Huss (1373-1415) - Bohemian (Czech) Reformer greatly influenced by Wycliffe. Was burned July 6th, 1415.

3. Hieronymus Bohemus (1379-1416) - Known as Jerome of Prague, he was a devoted friend of John Huss. He was burned at the stake for openly teaching the doctrines introduced by Wycliffe and Huss.

4. John Oecolampadius (1482-1531) - A German Reformer who championed Luther’s view of biblical justification. Later became a preacher and lecturer in Basel and assistant to Zwingli.

5. Martin Luther (1483-1546) - German Reformer who challenged the false teachings of Rome and sparked God’s reformation of the church in 1517.

6. Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) - Swiss Reformer who really began the Reformation in Switzerland through his lectures in 1519. He died in the battle of Kappel.

7. Hugh Latimer (1485-1555) - Was burned at the stake on October 16th, 1555, alongside his friend Nicholas Ridley, under the reign of “Bloody Mary.”

8. Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) - Archbishop of Canterbury who led the reformed movement in England. When asked to recant he said, “And as for the Pope, I refuse him, as Christ’s enemy and Antichrist, with all his false doctrine.” He was then burned at the stake by Bloody Mary.

9. William Farel (1489-1565) - French Reformer who began his work in Basel then continued it in Geneva with Viret and Calvin. After being ejected from Geneva he settled in Neuchatel.

10. Martin Bucer (1491-1551) - Reformer in Strassburg, Germany. Calvin learned much from Bucer during a three-year (1538-1541) stay in Strassburg. His remains and the remains of Paul Fagius were exhumed and burned at Cambridge.

11. Berthold Haller (1492-1536) - Swiss Reformer at Bern. Interestingly, he left no writings, only a few letters which have been published in Zwingli’s works.

12. Simon Grynaeus (1493-1541) - German Reformer who was a good friend of Melanchthon and worked closely with the Swiss Reformers.

13. Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) - German Reformer who assisted Luther and helped author the Augsburg Confession.

14. Wolfgang Musculus (1497-1563) - German Reformer in Augsburg who later went on teach in Bern. He was a Benedictine Monk who joined the cause of church reformation in 1527.

15. John a Lasco (1499-1560) - Polish Reformer who studied in Basle and became close friends with Zwingli. Later pastored in England. He then fled to Poland and led the Reformation of their churches under King Sigismund II.

16. Nicholas Ridley (1500-1555) - English Reformer who opposed Romanisn and was subsequently burned at the stake on October 16th, 1555.

17. Peter Martyr Vermigli (1500-1562) - Italian Reformer who was exiled in Switzerland and then to Strassburg. At the invitation of Thomas Cranmer he took a professorship at Oxford and then went on to teach in Zurich.

18. Patrick Hamilton (1504-1528) - Scottish churchman and Reformer. He was accused of heresy and fled to see Luther in Germany. He later returned to Scotland to preach the gospel, knowing his eventual martydom would be a great witness to its truth. He was burned at the stake.

19. Paul Fagius (1504-1549) - German Reformer who went into exile in England. Professor at the University of Strassburg and professor of Hebrew at Cambridge. He was a good friend of Thomas Cranmer. His remains and the remains of Martin Bucer were exhumed and burned at Cambridge by the Romanists.

20. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) - Swiss Reformer and the successor to Zwingli in Zurich who became leader of the reformed party. Perhaps the most influential of the lesser-known Reformers. He was the primary author of the Second Helvetic Confession (1566), which was used in Switzerland, France, Scotland, and Hungary as it became one of the most popular creedal standards.

21. John Calvin (1509-1564) - The most influential of all Reformers who resided primarily in Geneva. His Institutes of the Christian Religion is the greatest theological work ever produced.

22. Pierre Viret (1511-1571) - French Reformer who was influential in bringing the city of Lausanne to the evangelical faith.

23. John Knox (1514-1572) - Scottish Reformer known for his bold stands against Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary).

24. Theodore Beza (1519-1605) - Calvin’s great friend and successor at Geneva.

Jean Dassier dedicated The Reformer Series to the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Wake (1657-1737), who was himself an avid numismatist. Pictured below is the dedicatory medal of the series with a right-facing bust of Wake on the obverse and a brief description of the subject in Latin on the reverse.

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Calvin March 28th, 2007

I wouldn’t think there are many places that have a large bronze statue of John Calvin in their city square, but Budapest, Hungary, is one such place. The picture on the left is of a statue of the Swiss Reformer in Calvin Square in the heart of Budapest. I cannot speak with any depth of knowledge on the Reformed/Calvinistic tradition in Hungary, but there certainly seems to be a heritage there dating back to the time of the Reformation.

There is an entry here on Wikipedia that gives a good overview of the history of the Hungarian Reformed Church with several extra links. There is also a small chapter in J.A. Wylie’s The History of Protestantism that is quite informative. Wylie describes the change that occurred there, which was unlike the furor caused in many countries, which may help to give us a little insight into why not very much is known. He says:

“One very remarkable characteristic of the progress of Protestantism in Hungary, was its silence and its steadiness. No one heard the fall of the Roman hierarchy: there was no crash as in other countries, and yet it was overthrown. The process of its removal was a dissolution rather than a destruction…the Bible, the pulpit, and the school did their work; the light waxed clearer every hour…young evangelists, full of knowledge and faith, returned from the Protestant schools in Germany and Switzerland, and began to publish the Gospel.”

It certainly seemed to be a “quiet” reformation in comparison to what occurred in Germany, Switzerland, and England. I’m not sure how faithful the Hungarian Reformed Church is today to the historic protestant teachings of the Reformers, but their roots go back to students who studied under Luther in Wittenberg and brought back the gospel of justification by faith alone to the people of their homeland. The gospel spread like fire all across Europe once God brought light out of the darkness caused by Roman Catholicism, so we should not be surprised that it had an impact on countries such as Hungary, even though history records very little about how it happened.

Lajos Beran was a famous Hungarian medallist of the early 20th century. The following medal, in two variations (one in Latin the other in Hungarian), was created by him in 1936, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Calvin’s Institutes. Next to this medal that I had blogged some time ago, this is my favourite medal of Calvin for it pictures him in his study, books and quill nearby, ready to clearly exegete the scriptures, for which we should be thankful to God.

This medal was struck in bronze in 1936 and measures 41mm in diameter. Obverse: Calvin facing left sitting at desk and looking out window. Three books, a quill, and inkwell on the window ledge with rays of light shining in and encircled by the Hungarian inscription: A’SZENT KÖNYVEK UTÁN KIKET A’NAGY APOSTOLOK ÍRTAK | ENNEL JOBB KÖNYVET MÉG SOHA SENKI NEM ÍRT and signed BERAN LAJOS. REV: Hand with bleeding heart in palm. Inscription: SZÍVEMET VÉRES ÁLDOZATUIL FELAJÁNLOM AZ ÚRNAK | KÁLVIN INSTITUTIÓJÁNAK NÉGYSZÁZÉVES EMLÉKEZETÉRE A MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK 1936.

This variation was also struck in bronze in 1936 and measures 41mm in diameter. Obverse: Calvin facing left sitting at desk and looking out window. Three books, a quill, and inkwell on the window ledge with rays of light shining in and encircled by the Latin inscription: PRAETER APOSTOLICAS POST CHRISTI TEMPORA CHARTAS | HUIC PEPERERE LIBRO SECULA NULLA PAREM and signed BERAN LAJOS. Reverse: A coat of arms motif encircled by the Latin inscription: IN MEMORIAM INSTITUTIONIS CALVINI HUNGARI HELV CONF ADDICTI MDXXXVI - MCMXXXVI | SI DEUS PRO NOBIS | QUIS CONTRA NOS.Here are two other examples of commemorative items done by Hungarian artists, both of which, little is known. The first is a small plaquette, the second a large mounted plaque.

Description: Uniface plaque in bronze made in 1930 measuring 73mmX50mm with left-facing bust of Calvin and inscription reading: JOHANNES CALVINUS and signed SZODY. This is an uncatalogued specimen and nothing is known of the artist.

Description: An extremely rare, large bronze uniface plaque (mounted on wood) produced in 1928. It measures 250mmX200mm with left-facing bust of Calvin with the inscription below the portrait: CALVIN and signed KOVATS Z. | 1928 in top right corner.

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