BECKER, PHILIPP CHRISTOPH (Germ.). Born in 1674 at Coblenz, died in 1743 at Vienna. Die-sinker and Gem-engraver ("K. Kammermedailleur and K. Münzpräginspector "). Mariette considers him as the best German Engraver in precious stones. He began as a goldsmith, and later on learnt stone-cutting with John George Seidlitz at Vienna, in which branch he soon became very efficient. The Emperors Joseph I. and Charles VI. attached him to their service, and the latter raised him to the peerage. He spent some years at St. Petersburg, where he cut the seals of Peter the Great and reformed the coinage. His earlier signature is P.C.B., later on D.BECKER. The Imperial collection at the Hofburg possesses the dies of the following medals cut by Becker : Coronation Medals of Charles VI. (10 var.); — Francis III., Duke of Lorraine ; — Maria Theresia and Francis I., 1740; — Archduke Joseph, 1741 ; — Prince Adam Francis of Schwarzenberg, &c. ; — Foundation of the Coin and Medal Cabinet at Vienna; — Portrait- medal of the Artist; — Widowhood of the Empress Elizabeth Christina ; — Restoration of the Convent of Göttweig, 1729, &c. ; — and in the Medal cabinet at Vienna a stone engraved with a portrait of Charles VI. signed P. C. B. and which probably dates from 1711 ; — another bears the busts of the Emperor and his consort, and also of Prince Eugene. Like Seidlitz, Becker devoted more time to gem-engraving than die-cutting; he engraved numerous seals for German Princes; his work is generally very fine and much above the usual style of his contemporaries. Bibliography. — Domanig, op. cit. — Bolzenthal, op. cit. — Arneth, Kalalog der k. k. Medaillen und Stempel-Sammlung . — Köhler, Münzbelust, XVII, 193. — Dr Meyer, op. cit., p. 266.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
BALDWIN
BALDWIN (Brit.). Abbot of St. Edmundsbury (1065-1097) was granted a mint in conjunction with the abbey by Edward the Confessor. The document reads as follows : " Edward King gret Aylmer Bisscop, and Girth Erl, and Toly and all mine Theynes on Estangle frendlike. And Ic kithe ihu that Ic habbe unnen Baldewine Abbot one munetere with innen Seynt Edmunds Biri, also frelike on alle thing to habben, also me mine on hande stonden ower on ani mine burgh aldrefrelikest. Godse ihu alle frend. " Bibliogra...
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BALDWIN (Brit.). Abbot of St. Edmundsbury (1065-1097) was granted a mint in conjunction with the abbey by Edward the Confessor. The document reads as follows : " Edward King gret Aylmer Bisscop, and Girth Erl, and Toly and all mine Theynes on Estangle frendlike. And Ic kithe ihu that Ic habbe unnen Baldewine Abbot one munetere with innen Seynt Edmunds Biri, also frelike on alle thing to habben, also me mine on hande stonden ower on ani mine burgh aldrefrelikest. Godse ihu alle frend. " Bibliogra...
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BALLAY, JOSUÉ
BALLAY, JOSUÉ (French). Engraver of jetons during the first half of the sixteenth century (1525-1553) The best known are : 1525, Jetons for the Master of the" Chambre aux Deniers"; — 1526, M. de Bonnes, maitre d'hôtel of the King; — 1527, Cardinal of Orleans, Archbishop of Toulouse; — M. de Lautrec, jetons for the officers of Louise de Savoie; — Jetons for Jean Riveron; — 1530, The Queen; — 1531, The Queen of Navarre; — 1532, M. Ch. de Saint-Simon; — Jetons for the Comte de Chateaubriant; — 1542...
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BALLAY, JOSUÉ (French). Engraver of jetons during the first half of the sixteenth century (1525-1553) The best known are : 1525, Jetons for the Master of the" Chambre aux Deniers"; — 1526, M. de Bonnes, maitre d'hôtel of the King; — 1527, Cardinal of Orleans, Archbishop of Toulouse; — M. de Lautrec, jetons for the officers of Louise de Savoie; — Jetons for Jean Riveron; — 1530, The Queen; — 1531, The Queen of Navarre; — 1532, M. Ch. de Saint-Simon; — Jetons for the Comte de Chateaubriant; — 1542...
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BALLIN, CLAUDE
BALLIN, CLAUDE (French). Succeeded Jean Varin as Director of the Paris Medal-Mint, 1676 — 1678. This famous artist, who was born in Paris in 1615 and died at the Louvre on the 22nd January 1678, is the most celebrated goldsmith of the second half of the seventeenth century. His productions were works of art, which unfortunately have nearly all been destroyed, partly under Louis XIV. when through the necessities of state most of the existing plate in France was melted down to be turned into curre...
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BALLIN, CLAUDE (French). Succeeded Jean Varin as Director of the Paris Medal-Mint, 1676 — 1678. This famous artist, who was born in Paris in 1615 and died at the Louvre on the 22nd January 1678, is the most celebrated goldsmith of the second half of the seventeenth century. His productions were works of art, which unfortunately have nearly all been destroyed, partly under Louis XIV. when through the necessities of state most of the existing plate in France was melted down to be turned into curre...
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BALTIMORE, LORD
BALTIMORE, LORD (Brit.). Lord Proprietor of Maryland, issued a series of coins, temp. Charles II., for circulation in his own province. They are Shillings, Sixpences, and Groats in silver, and Pennies in copper. The obv. of these present a bare head, in profile, of Lord Baltimore, with the legend CAECILIVS D'NS TERRAE MARIAE &c. T. and on R. his arms under the crown of his palatinate, with indication of value. The penny bears the inscription DENARIVM TERRAE MARIAE. Bibliography. — Ruding, Annals...
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BALTIMORE, LORD (Brit.). Lord Proprietor of Maryland, issued a series of coins, temp. Charles II., for circulation in his own province. They are Shillings, Sixpences, and Groats in silver, and Pennies in copper. The obv. of these present a bare head, in profile, of Lord Baltimore, with the legend CAECILIVS D'NS TERRAE MARIAE &c. T. and on R. his arms under the crown of his palatinate, with indication of value. The penny bears the inscription DENARIVM TERRAE MARIAE. Bibliography. — Ruding, Annals...
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