Does anyone recognize this as a silver hallmark? Possibly Polish or French?
The Medal and its inscriptions are Dutch - that I know for sure.
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David van der Kellen and his family members were primarily known as engravers, medalists, and mint masters, not traditional silversmiths who produced hollowware or flatware. Therefore, they used a signature or monogram, not a specific maker’s mark in the silversmithing hallmark sense.
Items related to his work as a Dutch mint master or medalist might bear the appropriate national and city hallmarks of the time, the city of Utrecht mark, date letters, the national standard mark and potentially his name,
Here we can see the mark for the city of Utrecht, a double headed eagle.
Here’s a little about the engraver:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_van_der_Kellen_Jr.
This is a prize medal for the Dutch Society for Industry and Trade and I’m going to presume you have already googled it so won’t repeat already known data.
CRWW
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Thank you. Yes, I did some research but I can’t figure out for sure if it was silver. I found the website of the company who makes these medals, and there are only 3 choices of material (gold, silver, bronze). Since there’s no silverplate option, I have to assume it’s solid silver. At M-A Shops (a coin auction site) I found a similar one, and that one says it’s silver too. I just wish it had a 835 mark or something, so I could be 100 percent sure. Thanks again for your help!
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This seems to answer your question.Silver so likely .800 or .835
DUTCH INDUSTRY AND TRADE SOCIETY 1976 Medal 63mm 77g Silver. B15 | eBay.
CRWW
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Yes, except mine is 45 mm, so a bit smaller. But I think it’s safe to say that it’s silver. Thanks again!
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In the course of looking for confirmation of the mint’s use of metal grades I noted that while David van der Kellen, designed the first version in 1861, JPM Menger created some small changes to the image in 1877, and since then the design was again adjusted again in 1903 and 1954. From 1903 to 1996 and perhaps later the Rijks Munt has struck many thousands of these medals, and inscribed them with names and dates to commemorate long term employment.
I learned as you had already, they exist in bronze, silver, gold and gilt and with various diameters. Besides as medals, they are also produced as lapel pins, lapel buttons and brooches.
Looking at the image devolvement it is possible to observe the differences in shield, wreath and facial expression.
CRWW
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