MOSAICS FROM HERITAGE OF ELTE – JANUARY 2024

Obejct of the month – Sándor Szilágyi commemorative medal

The image on the obverse shows the bust of an elderly man with a beard and mustache looking to the left. Under the image of the medal is the name of the artist (Anton Scharff), on the left side inscription: „AET LXX”.

The image on the reverse is divided horizontally. In the upper field, three figures can be seen between books and a globe. On the left side of the field, there are names related to Sándor Szilágyi’s historical activities: „BÁTHORY / BETHLEN / RÁKÓCZY”. In the lower field the building of the University Library can be seen, above the coat of arms of the Eötvös Loránd University (then Budapest University) and the mint mark of Kremnica. Inscription on the left side of the field: „RERUM HUNGARICARUM AC TRANSSYLVANICARUM INDIGATORI INDEFESSO 1897”.

Bronze commemorative medal made on the occasion of the 70th birthday of the historian Sándor Szilágyi (1927–1899). The medal was presented by the admirers at the meeting of the Hungarian Historical Society on the 21st of June 1897. During his research activities, Sándor Szilágyi worked on early modern Hungarian and Transylvanian topics, from 1878 until his death he was the director of the University Library of Eötvös Loránd University (then Budapest University).

Source/author of illustration: ELTE University Library and Archives – University History Collection