A medal minted to commemorate a decree issued by Emperor Franz Joseph granting some of the Jews in his domain the right to purchase land. [Vienna, 1860]. The medal is placed in decorated box, in which it was given as a souvenir to the Jewish community of the town Gura Humorului (today in North Romania), ca. 1861.
Silver-plated medal. Obverse: a relief of a woman holding a scroll with the Hebrew legend "Din Echad Le'Am Echad" (One Law for One People) [spelling error in the Hebrew word דין, Din]. Facing her is a youth holding a bouquet. Between them is an altar with the portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph, surmounted by the Tablets of the Law with the Hebrew legend "One law will be for all of us". Surrounding the relief is a German legend. On the bottom part is the legend "Thanks to Your Highness Emperor Franz Joseph I, the Jews throughout the Austrian Empire have been Granted the Right to Own Lands" (German). Reverse: the text of the decree published in February 1860. Signed: "Pr. Seidan (Vienne)".
The medal is inserted in an original box, with a decorated lid attached by a joint. On the outside of the lid is a medallion; at its top is a crown and on its sides are lions. Inside the medallion is a Star-of-David with the Hebrew inscriptions "This memory will be a sign for a covenant forever, amen", and "Made and finished well for the city of the holy community in the year of 'I will resurrect my covenant between me and you'" (in gematria this is the year 5622 – 1861/1862). The inner side of the lid is lined with fabric inscribed in German with a gilt inscription: "Gewidmet der Ehrsamen Isr:Cultus-Gemeinde in Gorahumora" [Dedicated to the Jewish Community in Gura Humorului].
An identical medal appears in the Bezalel Narkis Index of Jewish Art. It is inserted in a box like that of the present item and dedicated to the Jewish community of Pilsen (Czech Republic). See enclosed material.
Diameter of medal: 75 mm. Good condition. Minor blemishes. Diameter of box: 87 mm. The box is damaged, with stains, tears and missing pieces. Stains, tears and blemishes to the box's lining. The German inscription is somewhat faded.