24k AV Medal (40mm, 80.29 g, 6h). Magic Square. By Albert Wiss. Copyright 1942. AGW: 2.8321. EF.

CNG Feature Auction 123
Lot: 900. Estimated: $ 7 500

United States Medals, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 8 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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24k AV Medal (40mm, 80.29 g, 6h). Magic Square. By Albert Wiss. Copyright 1942. AGW: 2.8321. Magical square consisting of sixteen numerals (four columns and four rows, each totaling 16). Sixteen letter border outside; above, S. 40 – 80G; 1492 to left; 1861 to right; below, © ALBERT WISS/1942 in two lines / Ornate design reminiscent of the mystic tree of life with central voided cross flanked containing pellet; two additional pellets, flanking; above, the numbers 31; 431658 and JULY 4; 1776 below; additional stars and numbers-in circles around. Edge: 1000 – FINE PURE. See Stack’s Bowers January 2012 Americana, lot 6308 (for another in gold). Small spot of toning, hairlines, spots of roughness. EF. Unusual.

According to the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 4 for 1941 (New Series, Volume 36, No. 4), p. 144, Albert Wiss is listed as entry number 6103 for a “Mandala dvaya maga,” or “circular two-fold priest.” Born in 1882 in Switzerland, Wiss was listed as an importer of watches in the 1915 New York State Census. In the 1930 Federal Census, he and his family were listed as living in Yonkers, where he is listed as an importer of jewelry (on his own account). Subsequently, in the 1940 Federal Census, he has no occupation (but has income from other sources), and has moved once again with his family to Hillsdale, Bergen Co., NJ. The enumerator also noted that Wiss had completed four years of college, which might help explain his interest in Eastern mysticism, represented by this medal.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 123 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 23-24 May 2023. This lot is in Session Four, which will begin 24 May 2023 at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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