Rare Early Silver Zeppelin LZ. 4 Flight Medal. 190

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Nice quality, rare, silver coin commemorating the test flight of the German Zeppelin L.Z.4 over Strasbourg on the 4th & 5th August 1908.

The front of this attractive medal bears the image of the founder of the Zeppelin company, Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin and round the edge, the caption, "Excellenz Graf V. Zeppelin" (Excellency Count Von Zeppelin). The reverse shows the airship LZ 4 flying over Strasbourg's cathedral. Above is the inscription "Ueber Strassberg! - Probefarht - 4.-5. Aug. 1908" (Over Strasbourg! Proving - Flight 4th-5th August 1908). The medal is marked with the maker's name, L. Chr. Lauer, Nurenberg". The rim is stamped, "Ein Gedaechtnis Thaler" (roughly translates as "a commemorative medal/coin). Diameter : 33.5mm. Very good condition.

On the 4th & 5th August 1908, Count Zeppelin attempted a 24 hour, 435 mile, non-stop flight in the LZ4 from Lake Constance to Basel, Strasbourg, Mainz and then back to Stuttgart. Early in the morning of the 5th August, due to engine problems, the LZ4 was forced to land near Echterdingen. Later that afternoon a storm destroyed the Zeppelin while it was still on the ground.