Medal, commemorating Samuel Hahnemann, Germany, 1829

Silver plated copper medal, commemorating Samuel Hahnemann on his death, 10th August, 1829, German doctor who devised homeopathy in Liepzig in 1796, by Krueger, German, 1829

Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) was a German physician who developed the medical system known as homeopathy from the late 1700s. Homeopathy was an alternative to medical theories taught in Europe at the time. This medal commemorated him in August 1829 and was made by medal maker Krueger in Germany. It celebrates the date of his birth, 10th April 1755, and the date he graduated as a doctor from the University of Erlangen in Germany on 10th August 1779. Hahnemann’s head is on one side. The Latin phrase ‘Similia Similibus’ is on the reverse. This means ‘like cures like’ and homeopathy is based on this idea. For instance, treatment for vomiting is with something that causes vomiting but it would be given in a smaller, much diluted dose.