102877 | GERMANY. Samuel Thomas Sömmering/Human Brain bronze Medal.

102877  |  GERMANY. Samuel Thomas Sömmering bronze Medal. Issued 1827. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of his doctorate (50mm, 72.95 g, 12h). By Christoph Pfeuffer for the Loos workshop in Berlin.

 

S TH A SOEMMERRING NAT THORUNI D XXVIII IAN MDCCLV DOCT CREAT GOTTINGAE D VII APR MDCCLXXVIII, bare head right; serpent-entwined staff to right // ANATOMICORUM PRINCIPI ANIMAE ORGANA QUI APERUIT ARTIS VIRIQUE CULTORES D VII APR MDCCCXXVIII, view of a human brain from the top. Edge: Plain.

 

Brettauer 1159; Sommer P-19; Joseph & Fellner 1030. Mint State. Even brown surfaces, with charming brilliance but some scattered marks. Highly interesting and haunting anatomical type.

 

One of the most important German anatomists, Samuel Thomas Sömmering received his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1778, for which he described the organization of the cranial nerves. During his career, he investigated the brain and nervous system, as well as sensory organs and the lungs. Of particular note, he discovered the macula in the retina of the human eye. Given this intense focus on the nervous system as a whole, the choice of a human brain on this doctorate celebratory medal is quite appropriate.

 

Upload: 8 October 2024.