1898 German Royal Wedding Medal Friedrich Wied Württemberg Karl Schäfer Stuttgar

A museum-quality German royal wedding commemorative medal from 1898, now fully attributed to two documented makers - one of the finest pieces of its type to appear on the secondary market. The Marriage: This medal commemorates the wedding of Hereditary Prince Friedrich of Wied. Friedrich of Wied later achieved international historical prominence as Prince Wilhelm of Albania (1914) - selected by the Concert of Europe as the constitutional monarch of the newly independent Albanian state. Princess Pauline was a member of the royal House of Württemberg, which ruled the Kingdom of Württemberg until 1918.

Obverse: Magnificent conjoined portrait busts of the royal couple - Friedrich in military uniform with decorations, Pauline in decolleté gown with pearl choker - above a beautifully rendered rose and bridal bouquet spray. Full titles inscribed: "ERBPRINZ FRIEDRICH ZU WIED" and PRINZESSIN PAULINE VON WÜRTTEMBERG. Two artist attributions are present and clearly legible.

The monogram and attribution of Karl Schäfer, the Stuttgart-based medallic artist who engraved the dies. Designation confirms Schäfer as the primary creative hand. Reverse: Two putti support a royal crown above a crowned shield with the intertwined "FP" monogram, flanked by rose garland swags. Material & Strike: Silvered bronze - consistent with an official presentation-grade strike. Surface silver wash with bronze substrate - a higher-grade finish reserved for presentation and diplomatic distribution.

Size: 64mm × 54mm oval. Publisher: Mayer & Wilhelm, Stuttgart. Condition: Excellent - crisp relief throughout, silver wash largely intact, natural age patina.

A fully documented, doubly attributed royal commemorative medal of exceptional historical and artistic significance.

---