A small silver commemorative medal, known as a Siegespfennig, struck at the Berlin medal-making establishment of Daniel Friedrich Loos to commemorate the crossing of the Rhine by the forces of the Sixth Coalition.
On New Year’s Eve 1813/1814, units of Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher’s Prussian-Russian Army of Silesia began crossing the Rhine, principally near Kaub. The operation opened the way for the Allied advance into France and marked the beginning of the campaign that culminated in the capture of Paris and Napoleon’s first abdication.
The reverse inscription does not refer solely to a single crossing, but to the successive operations begun on 1 January 1814, during which Allied troops crossed the Rhine at several locations.
Medal with a suspension loop and ring.
An interesting memento of one of the most important strategic operations marking the beginning of the 1814 campaign in France.
Obverse: winged Victory holding a sword and laurel wreath
GOTT SEGNETE DIE VEREINIGTEN HEERE
Reverse: seven-line inscription
DURCH / DEN / ÜBERGANG / ÜBER DEN / RHEIN / VOM 1 JAN. AN / 1814
Silver, diameter 15 mm, weight 1.61 g
