Germany Weimar Wilhelm II The Mourning Kienast-236 MS 63 PCGS bronze medal 1919

The 1919 German bronze medal “Die Trauernden” (“The Mourning”) commemorates the collapse of Imperial Germany and the turbulent aftermath of World War I. Issued during the early years of the Weimar Republic, this powerful satirical and political medal reflects the deep social unrest, national grief, and political division that followed the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the end of the German Empire. Certified by PCGS in MS63 condition, the piece is an important historical artifact as well as an expressive example of early twentieth-century medallic art.

One side of the medal depicts a dramatic gathering of mourning and revolutionary figures surrounding a central character raising an object above his head. The composition includes workers, civilians, military-style figures, and expressive portraits rendered in strong sculptural relief, symbolizing public turmoil and political upheaval in postwar Germany. The opposite side presents an allegorical funeral scene in which exhausted and distorted figures place a coffin marked “Deutsches Republik” into a container inscribed “Amerongen RIP,” referencing the Dutch town where Wilhelm II lived in exile after his abdication. Behind them stand elegantly dressed men in top hats observing the symbolic burial of the empire. The dark bronze surfaces and deeply engraved details enhance the emotional intensity of the design.

Following Germany’s defeat in World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated in November 1918 and fled to the Netherlands. The monarchy collapsed, giving rise to the Weimar Republic amid revolution, economic crisis, and social instability. Medals of this era often carried strong political messages, and this issue remains a compelling reflection of the emotions surrounding the end of imperial rule. Certified PCGS MS63, this historical bronze medal is highly collectible for enthusiasts of German history, political art, and Weimar-era numismatics.

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