Jack M. writes: I have a medallion that was purchased by my grandmother in Germany after WW-2. I don’t know how to find out what this medal is. It was minted in Venezuela (1959) and has the bust of Adolph Hitler on the front, an eagle on the back, and says “Chiefs of the second war”. I would really like to find out all I can about this piece.
This coin was part of a series of coins struck for the Banco Italo-Venezolana by Karlsruhe Mint in Baden Germany in 1957 & 1959. All the coins were minted in gold. They feature all the leaders of virtually every country that was involved in World War II. They are titled in Spanish: “JEFES EN LA SEGUNDA GUERRA” (Chiefs of the Second War) The coins were made in 20 Bolivares size (.900 fine gold, .1736 troy ounce pure), 60 Bolivares (.900 fine gold, .6430 troy ounce pure). Both sizes were minted in 1957.
A single, large 160 Bolivares medal was made with the portrait of Adolf Hitler and is dated 1959. This is probably your piece. It is .900 gold and contains 1.4468 troy ounces pure gold. Approximate value range: $1850 – $3000.