Italy 1906 Bronze Simplon Tunnel Medal - LOTTO/M30135Italy 1906 Bronze Simplon Tunnel Medal

A rare and prized medal for the Simplon Tunnel, a tribute to the men who built it. Italy, 1906; publisher Johnson (S.); chief engraver Ricci (F.) after Riser; 34.0 mm; bronze. OBVERSE: on the right, two women in antique dress personify Switzerland and Italy, both turned to the left, where the portal of the tunnel is seen with a train running into it. Italy, her brow crowned, has her right arm outstretched, scattering flowers as the train passes; Switzerland, her hair loose over her shoulders, holds a palm in her left hand and rests her right on a shield bearing her arms. Below, in a decorated cartouche: SIMPLON | M. 19803. The upper part shows a vault; on the keystone we read BRANDT | BRANDAU | LOCHER | SULSER, the letters in outline, the name Brandt repeated twice. On the face of the arch is a lively working party: on the left, excavators; on the right, miners boring a hole. Between them the inscription INGENIUM | ET MANUS | PERFODERUNT | ME. In the exergue, overflowing into the centre, the long-haired and bearded head of an old man personifying the spirit of the mountain; at the left MDCCCIIC, at the right MDCCCIV. Lower left: PROF. RISER; lower right, in outline characters: F. RICCI Scult. Catalogue: Moyaux 372; Dory Kubinszky 181 - Lotto/M30135