Belgium, Rupelmonde. Medal 1870 commemorating the construction of a monument to Mercator, C. Wiener
- KOD: 4807197RMA
Belgium, Rupelmonde. Medal 1870 commemorating the construction of a monument to Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) Flemish cartographer by the Circle of Antiquities in Waas, by C. Wiener, tin? / white metal, thickly gilded 50 mm, weight 36,1 g., Condition XF, edge damage, traces of metal checking on the edge, glossy specimen
Gerardus Mercator 5 March 1512 – 2 December 1594) was a Flemish geographer, cosmographer and cartographer. He is most renowned for creating the 1569 world map based on a new projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing (rhumb lines) as straight lines—an innovation that is still employed in nautical charts.
Mercator was a notable maker of globes and scientific instruments. In addition, he had interests in theology, philosophy, history, mathematics and geomagnetism. He was also an accomplished engraver and calligrapher.
Mercator wrote on geography, philosophy, chronology and theology. All of the wall maps were engraved with copious text on the region concerned. As an example, the famous world map of 1569 is inscribed with over five thousand words in fifteen legends.
source: wikipedia.org