Large circular bronze medal; the face with the head of Tomáš G. Masaryk, circumscribed with his name and signed ‘O. ŠPANIEL’; the reverse inscribed ‘NA PAMĚT 85. NAROZENIN PRVNÍHO PRESIDENTA REPUBLIKY ČESKLOVENSKÉ’ (In Memory of the 85th Birthday of the First President of the Czechoslovak Republic), a linden bough above, a laurel bough below, and dated ‘7–III–1850’ (7 March 1850) and ‘7–III–1935’ (7 March 1935). Diameter 50mm (2 inches). Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937) was the leading proponent of Czechoslovak independence during World War I and became first president of the new republic in 1920. He was re-elected twice and held office until 1935. He can truly be called the father of Czechoslovakia. Otakar Španiel was one of Czechoslovakia’s greatest sculptors and is perhaps most famous for his designs used in the Allied World War I Victory Medals.
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