Denmark Iceland: Commemorative Medal for the 1000th Anniversary of the Althing

[Megan]

Instituted in 1930 by King Christian X of Denmark to mark the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Althing (Icelandic parliament) in 930AD.

[Kvart]

Thank you for posting the picture. I think this medal is horribly rare.

[Great Dane]

Not entirely wrong... only 121 awarded.

/Michael

[Megan]

Images seem dreadfully rare, let alone the actual medal!!!

Still looking for its official name in Icelandic and the decree creating it.

[Great Dane]

The icelandic name is "Heiðursmerki Alþingishátíðarinnar 1930" (note the icelandic characters)

If you want better photos, let me know.

/Michael

[Megan]

Thank you, Michael... the specialist Icelandic characters are OK once you know your way around character sets! Always interested in good images (and you'd better PM your real name for the acknowledgements page, you helpful person!). Do you happen to know to whom it was given? As in terms of award... all I know is that it was to mark the thousandth anniversary of the Althing.

[Great Dane]

No problem Megan,

The Althing medal is a commemorative medal awarded to the members of the icelandic Althing (42 members in 1930) and to the heads of parlaments of other countries who took part in the celebrations.

It was also awarded to members of the danish royal family (who took part) and a few persons chosen by the icelandic minister.

Here is another photo:

/Michael

[Great Dane]

Here is another rare icelandic medal:

It is the "Commemorative Medal on the Restoration of the Republic 1944" ("Heiðursmerki til minningar um endurreisn lýðveldisins 1944").

Struck in USA in 10 K gold.

It was meant to be awarded to members of the Althing (52 members in 1944), a few other icelanders and to 8 special envoys from foreign states.

Two members of the Althing refused to receive it and 3 diplomates could not receive it due to the regulations of their countries.

So 75 medals were struck, but only 70 awarded.

/Michael

Edited June 5, 2012 by Great Dane

[Megan]

Lovely, and one I have never seen before

Found this in my archives, the Althing medal with its case:

[Megan]

To blow the dust off this thread, seeing as I am tidying up the Iceland section of my website...

 

I believe there was a Commemorative Medal for the first President Mr Svein Björnsson but have no images or information. Does anyone know about it?

 

Likewise a Medal of Skálholt, belueved to have been established in 1963, but again proving to be remarkably elusive.

 

Finally, the Icelandic Crisis Response Force Medal - I have seen a picture of this in wear (just having been awarded, it looks like), but no information on terms of award, etc. Here's the picture.

 

 

Can anyone help?

 

 

[Great Dane]

Megan,
I can help you with info (and photos) of the first 2.

 

 

First up... "Heiðurspeningur til minningar um herra Svein Björnsson forseta" ("Commemorative Medal for President Svein Björnsson")

 

I have 2 sources:

1. "Den Islandske Falkeorden og De Islandske Medaljer" by Peter J. Jørgensen (1981). A publication as scarce as the medals...

2. Íslensk Heiðursmerki" by Birgir Thorlacius (1999).

 

The B/W is from source 1 and states the ribbon is the ribbon of the Order of the Falcon.

The color photo is from source 2 and shows the medal on a blue ribbon.

 

According to source 1 awarded 16 times + president Asgeirsson (on Feb. 27th, 1953)

Edited September 10, 2022 by Great Dane

[Great Dane]

Second one:

 

"Heiðurspeningur til minningar um vígslu Skálholtskirkju og afhendingu Skálholtskirkju til þjóðkirkjunnar 1963" ("Commemorative Medal for the Inauguration of Skalholt Church 1963")

 

Medals awarded: 104

 

According to some research done in 2010, it was planned to be awarded during the inauguration - and a list of recipients was created - but was forgotten about(!). A few were unofficially 'awarded' on the inauguration day in 1963, but a stash was found in a box in a government building - medals, cases, award documents (unnamed but signed) - in 2010.

 

 

I did not know about the Icelandic Crisis Response Force Medal... I assume it's an official one?

 

Do you know about the medals for Iceland's Red Cross?

Two classes - Class 1 to be worn around the neck and class 2 to be worn as a breast badge.

A specimen of each were on auction recently (first time I have seen either for sale/auction ever).

 

Class 2 from eMedals:

https://www.emedals.com/europe/iceland/iceland-republic-a-cross-of-the-icelandic-red-cross-ii-class

 

I forgot where I saw the class 1 on auction... (was it ebay?)

Edited September 10, 2022 by Great Dane

[Megan]

Oh, Great Dane, you are wonderful!!!

 

Thank you so much.

 

Yes, I do know about the medal for Iceland's Red Cross, thank you, & I have eMedals' images (they, kind souls, have given me the run of their site as far as image use is concerned!). Just need to add black backgrounds...

 

Do either of your sources give the date the Björnsson medal was established or terms of award?

 

PS. I need your real name for the acknowledgements, please! PM if you prefer.

[Megan]

Had a hunt online.... neither book seems to be available. May hit up my university's Inter-Library Loans service... well, it IS research (just not in the discipline the University hired me for!).

[Great Dane]

The Sveinn Björnsson medal was instituted by decree of February 26th, 1953.

The Skalholt medal was instituted July 11th, 1963.

 

Björnsson medal:

"Awarded to persons who had worked for or with Sveinn Björnsson."

[Megan]

Magic.... guess which 2 pages of my site I was working on at this very moment

 

[Megan]

Trying to write a description of the Commemorative Medal on the Restoration of the Republic 1944 - but struggling to make out the inscription on the obverse. Does anyone with sharper eyes (or access to information I've not found yet) know what it says?

[Great Dane]

The inscription is: "Lýðveldi endurreist á Islandi 17. júni 1944" ("Republic restored in Iceland on June 17, 1944").

[Megan]

 

My usual Sunday afternoon messing about with medals...