Holandese-Armenian Medal - Aleksan, son of Maseh - Original die

Bedoukian-4; ANRO-1430

This striking die for the “Aleksan” Armenian family medal is a finely engraved iron counter-die measuring 54×50 mm and weighing 93.50 g. In negative relief it reproduces the central design and surrounding legend found on the medal’s obverse, dated 1742. The principal motif depicts the Lamb of God standing on a globe, flanked by two allegorical figures, with Armenian inscriptions identifying the dedication as “Aleksan, son of mahtesi (pilgrim) Maseh.” A circular perforation in the center interrupts part of the engraved design. The reverse of the die is largely plain, showing corrosion and bearing a small paper label marked “27 X.” This die was used to strike the medal’s design onto planchets during production, exemplifying the craftsmanship of 18th‑century numismatic manufacture.

Specifications: Iron, 54x50mm, 93.50g
Artist / Engraver: Holtzhey, Martinus sr (1697-1764) ??


It is not a medal per se, but a steel die that was prepared for striking another oval medal of the same design as medal ANRO-1428. The inscription and design would have been essentially identical to ANRO-1428 (and by extension ANRO-1429), as the contemporary historian A. Ter-Zakarian (who wrote under the name “Chérakh”) discovered a plaster cast of this die in the 19th century​. The existence of the die suggests that a third commemorative medal of this series was planned. The die is measured at 54×50 mm, which is the same size as ANRO-1429, implying it was intended for a similarly large oval flan.

However, no actual medal struck from this die has yet been found. Bedoukian references the note by Fr. Macler that this was the very die whose plaster impression was seen by Chérakh in the Royal Coin Cabinet in The Hague​. The die itself is now housed in the Teyler Museum in Haarlem​. It’s possible that the medal was never struck due to the honoree’s change of plans or death, or that only a few pieces were made and lost. The design corresponds to the same timeframe (1740s) and concept as ANRO-1429 and ANRO-1428, completing the trio of large oval medals with Armenian inscriptions.

Interestingly, Bedoukian notes (citing Macler) that this unused die’s design was exactly like ANRO-1429 (the first of the series) in size​. That implies the artist created a die replicating the Hovhannes Khaltaryan medal for another client (perhaps intending to just change the name and dates). Sargsyan identified this die with the description given by Chérakh, confirming its Armenian attribution​. The fact that no strikings are known suggests this commission was aborted. Nonetheless, the survival of the die is significant evidence of the medal-making activity in the Armenian community of Amsterdam.

De Nederlandsche Bank - Numismatic Collection - 2011-0285
Teyler Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands​.

Historical Note: Research into the identity of Aleksan of Anabad revealed that he was originally from Constantinople​. An unpublished 1886 study by J. De Roever in the Amsterdam archives discovered that Maseh, Aleksan’s father, had another son in Constantinople and that Aleksan died without heirs, bequeathing his wealth to his brother’s family in Constantinople​. This indicates the family maintained ties between Amsterdam and the Ottoman capital. Notably, Alexan di Masse is recorded as the client to whom the Dutch medallist J. G. Holtzhey sold “five large and five small gold medals in 1780.” This likely refers to a batch of marriage medals commissioned by Alexan, suggesting he continued the custom of ordering medals for the community or family events. It has been proposed that the concept for these elaborate virtue-and-Trinity themed medals originated with an Armenian patron (perhaps the honoree himself or a clergyman advisor) and was executed by local engravers in Holland​.