A French 75Th Anniversary Of The Founding Of The European Danube Commission Medal 1856-1931

Bronze, cast in Paris, cornucopia hallmarked and marked "BRONZE" on the edge, obverse illustrating the symbols of the union of multiple national, political, economic and social interests on the Danube, represented by the goddess Juno, protector of all communions (weddings) and also waters, in this case the united interests of the European Danube Commission, with a visibly maternal abdomen, her hair gathered in a bunch, she is dressed in transparent veils, flowing to her ankles, seated on the left bank of the Danube, at the point where it empties into the sea, resting on a massive imperial throne, the goddess gazes towards the sun rising from the sea, and points to it, holding a trident in her left hand, planted vertically in the sandy soil, studded with aquatic plants, predominantly reeds, her right hand making a protective gesture towards Sulina and over the curved dykes that outline the channel leading into the Danube, vessels of all sizes travelling the river, including one that enters the channel against the rising sun, symbolizing free and unhindered navigation on the Danube, the principal mission of the European Commission, the breeze from the sea blows the smoke from another ship upstream, as it manoeuvres in the middle of the navigable channel, the buildings of Sulina on the right shore of the Danube, including the tall lighthouse, which dominates the scene, a large building at the base of the jetty on the right bank (the Administrative Palace of the European Danube Commission), inscribed "ARTICLE 16 DU TRAITE DE PARIS DU 30 MARS 1856" on the side of the throne on which the goddess is seated upon and leaning on her elbow (the last paragraph of Article 16 of the Paris Peace Treaty enjoined the establishment of the European Danube Commission), surrounded by the inscription "COMMISSION EUROPEENNE DU DANUBE", flanked by the dates "1856" and "1931", reverse bearing the official arms of the four states which, in 1931, still governed the activities of the European Danube Commission, clockwise from the top: the Royal Coat of Arms of Romania, the Arms of the Kingdom of Italy, the Arms of the Republic of France and the Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the trident of Juno in the centre, surrounded by the inscription "INAUGURATION DES NOUVELLES DIGUES DE SOULINA" and inscribed in Roman numerals "MCMXXXI" (1931) below, 71.5 mm, near mint. In its circular cardboard case of issue, scuffed and lightly soiled on the exterior, case very fine.

Footnote: The Commissions of the Danube River was authorized by the Treaty of Paris (1856) after the close of the Crimean War. One of these international commissions, the most successful of which was the European Commission of the Danube (European Danube Commission), which had authority over the three mouths of the river Danube, the Chilia in the north, the Sulina in the middle, and the St. George in the south. It was originally designed to last for only two years. but instead, lasted eighty-two years. The original participating countries were Austria, Britain, France, Italy, Prussia, Russia and Turkey. Following the political events that took place in Europe and on the Danube after the First World War, a part of the states that participated in the Paris Treaty, namely Germany, Austria, Russia and Turkey, were no longer part of the commission. Thus, in 1931, only four states, Britain, France, Italy and Romania took part in EDC activities.