Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 11/28/2011

Question
I have this medallion my grandfather gave me before he passed, he said he got it in Europe during the war. On one side there are two busts which read....
"FRANCISCVS AVG MARIA THERESIA AVG".
Around the two busts, on the bottom is...
NATVS VIII DEC.MDCCVIII- NATA XVII MAI. -MDCCXVII
On the other side there is a bust in the center surrounded by 12 smaller busts and the words....
"FOECVNDITAS AVGVSTORVM PATRIAE FELICITAS".
the bust in the middle has this around it....
JIOSEPH*ARCH*AVST*NAT*XIII MAR*MDCCXII
On th bottom of the center bust it has what looks like..A*V*C*E*
But I am not sure about the "V" and the C could be an O.
On the bottom edge it has MDCCLVIIII....
And on the edge all it says is Austria. I know the history of Maria and the thalers but this is much bigger and looks to be bronze or brass. Any info on what it is and how much it may be worth would be very helpful. Thank you, Anton

Answer
Hi Anton,
Sorry for the delay in getting to your question.
This is an Austrian medal to commemorate the life of Maria Theresa, their monarch and her son Joseph (pictured on the opposite side). It should measure 59mm in diameter.
Original medals in good condition are worth $300 to $400 at a good auction and a retail price would be $400 or more.
There are also copies out there (old copies, not modern ones) that can be worth up to half of the original. It's not possible to tell for sure if your medal is an original from the one small picture, but my impression is that it looks correct for an original.
Thanks for the question! =)