Germany Empire Russia Fall Riga Kienast-195 Goetz MS 64 PCGS bronze medal 1917

The 1917 Germany Empire Fall of Riga bronze medal, Kienast-195, created by Karl Goetz and certified PCGS MS64, commemorates the German capture of Riga during World War I. The obverse presents a fierce Russian bear wearing a military cap, with an open mouth, sharp teeth, powerful claws, and shaggy fur, confronting a smaller animal beneath a horizontal barrier. The reverse features a dramatic wartime composition with a large wheel, radiating lines, military equipment, mechanical details, and a symbolic figure representing the collapse of Russian defenses. In September 1917, German forces captured Riga following a major offensive, marking an important development on the Eastern Front. Goetz transformed this event into expressive political satire, using animal imagery and exaggerated forms to communicate wartime propaganda. Struck in bronze, this PCGS-certified medal combines historical significance, unusual symbolism, and distinctive German medallic artistry. A fascinating addition to any WWI collection!

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