Holandese-Armenian Marriage Medal - (Altar / Matrimony) - Gold
Identifier
Bedoukian-5v; ANRO-1432
Reference Description
Obverse:
At the center, a bride and groom stand on either side of a small altar, each extending the right hand toward two clearly rendered hearts resting on the altar. Strong rays of light stream from above, signifying a sacred union. Around the top perimeter is the Armenian inscription «ՍՈՒՐԲ ԱՄՈՒՍՆՈՒԹԻ:» (“Holy Matrimony”).
Below, in Latin letters, is “I. G. H. F 1749”—indicating Johannes G. Holtzhey as the engraver (fecit) and the year of striking.
Reverse:
A field of light rays descends from the top. At the center, two forearms—one male, one female—reach in from opposite sides and clasp hands directly above a similarly styled altar. Beneath or on this altar, two small hearts (or heart-like motifs) are again depicted. Around the upper perimeter, in Armenian, is «ՆԱԽԱՏԵՍՈՒԹԻ ԱԾԱՅԻՆ» (“Divine Providence”).
This is a curious variant where the designs and letters were apparently tooled and deepened by hand (perhaps by a later owner) on an existing striking, resulting in a somewhat crude finish.
Specifications: Gold, 37mm, 15.55g
Artist / Engraver: Holtzhey, Johan George (1726-1808)
At the center, a bride and groom stand on either side of a small altar, each extending the right hand toward two clearly rendered hearts resting on the altar. Strong rays of light stream from above, signifying a sacred union. Around the top perimeter is the Armenian inscription «ՍՈՒՐԲ ԱՄՈՒՍՆՈՒԹԻ:» (“Holy Matrimony”).
Below, in Latin letters, is “I. G. H. F 1749”—indicating Johannes G. Holtzhey as the engraver (fecit) and the year of striking.
Reverse:
A field of light rays descends from the top. At the center, two forearms—one male, one female—reach in from opposite sides and clasp hands directly above a similarly styled altar. Beneath or on this altar, two small hearts (or heart-like motifs) are again depicted. Around the upper perimeter, in Armenian, is «ՆԱԽԱՏԵՍՈՒԹԻ ԱԾԱՅԻՆ» (“Divine Providence”).
This is a curious variant where the designs and letters were apparently tooled and deepened by hand (perhaps by a later owner) on an existing striking, resulting in a somewhat crude finish.
Specifications: Gold, 37mm, 15.55g
Artist / Engraver: Holtzhey, Johan George (1726-1808)
Notes
Ebay, later Saryan Collection
Images
Items in Catalog Category
Citation
“Holandese-Armenian Marriage Medal - (Altar / Matrimony) - Gold,” Armenian Numismatic Research Organization, accessed March 29, 2025, http://armnumres.org/items/show/1432.