Slovakia, I Republic. An Andrej Hlinka Table Medal, Cased

In silvered bronze, marked "BRONZ" (bronze) and "STRIEBRENE" (silver) on the edge, illustrating the left-facing bust of Andrej Hlinka in the centre, engraver marked "V. JHRISKY 1938" at the base of the bust, inscribed "ANDREJ" at the left and "HLINKA" at the right, surrounded by two intertwined branches of thorns above, with the Slovakian cross flanked by branches of linden leaves at the left and laurel leaves at the right below, measuring 80.5 mm in diameter, scattered silvering wear evident on the obverse, edge nicks, near extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, bright red cloth-textured exterior, red felt recessed medal bed, clasp closure, measuring 112 mm (w) x 112 mm (h) x 27.5 mm (d), missing its liner on the inside lid, case very fine.

Footnote: Andrej Hlinka (September 27, 1864 - August 16, 1938) was a Slovak Catholic priest, journalist, banker and politician, one of the most important Slovak public activists in Czechoslovakia before the Second World War. He was the leader of the Hlinka's Slovak People's Party (since 1913), papal chamberlain (since 1924), inducted papal protonotary (since 1927), member of the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia (the parliament) and chairman of the St. Vojtech Fellowship (a religious publication organization). During the first Slovak Republic, client state of Nazi Germany (1939-1945), Hlinka was considered by the regime as a national hero. Josef Tiso, his deputy and successor in Hlinka's Slovak People's Party, became the president of the fascist first Slovak Republic. The Hlinka Guard, the militia maintained by the Hlinka's Slovak People's Party created shortly before Hlinka's death, later participated in The Holocaust in Slovakia.