Prussia, Frederick William IV (1840-1861). Set of 3 gold, silver and copper medals, First performance of Felix Mendelssohn's Antigone in Berlin, by C. K. Pfeuffer 1841, Berlin.

GERMANY Prussia, Frederick William IV (1840-1861). Box containing 3 medals in gold, silver and bronze, First performance of Antigone by Félix Mendelssohn in Berlin, by C. K. Pfeuffer 1841, Berlin.
Obv. Circular legend in Greek. Bust of Antigone with a beard, facing right; signature C. PFEUFFER FEC.
Rev. A circular wreath of ivy, with medallions of Medusa, Ludwig Tieck, musical instruments and Felix Mendelssohn, surrounding a religious scene of a woman approaching an altar; below legend in Greek.
Forrer IV p.475-476 - Niggl 1303 - Sommer P 72; Gold, silver and bronze - 278.12g, 145.25g and 142.8g - 63 mm - 12 h.
NGC MS 62 (Gold), UNC DETAILS OBV RIM DAMAGE (Silver) and MS 62 BN (Bronze). The box is slightly worn, with some gaps. The medals have tiny marks on the edge (12 o'clock for the silver one) and the fields are barely burnished by fingerprints. Extremely rare set. Uncirculated.

The original box, imitating leather with romantic floral decoration, includes the three medals in gold (278.12g), silver (145.25g) and bronze (142.8g). Antigone, a character created by Sophocles, refuses her uncle’s and King Creon’s orders. He symbolizes the opposition to the established order in many artistic representations. Frederick William IV was considering Greek tragedy as a way to revitalize cultural life in Berlin and commissioned Antigone from Felix Mendelssohn, a conductor in Leipzig. The play was performed for the first time on October 28th 1841, which was very successful.