This article presents collections of various commemorative medals, thematically dedicated to both obstetrics and gynecology, as well as famous doctors and scientists, obstetricians and gynecologists. The article presents the results of a study on the representation of the history of the formation and development of both obstetrics and gynecology, as well as a number of famous doctors, scientists, obstetricians, gynecologists and anatomists of different periods of time, on commemorative medals and coins. Interesting informative and illustrative material is presented in the form of screenshot copies of found thematic, numismatic materials on obstetrics and gynecology. The article is of interest to doctors, medical workers of different fields, as well as to students and historians of medicine, collectors and a wide range of readers.

The history of medicine is a bottomless treasury of interesting information about events and people associated with one of the noblest occupations - serving people, preserving and maintaining their health. But even in medicine, there is the most grateful discipline - obstetrics. This is a science that studies obstetrics and everything connected with it. Questions directly related to the study of medicine and its individual areas, such as obstetrics and gynecology in all their varieties, their history and heroes, achievements and development, are always relevant and in demand. This directly concerns such a direction of research as the study of the representation of these two important clinical disciplines in a wide variety of collecting tools and, in particular, in numismatics - on commemorative medals and coins. This topic is quite popular with collectors and researchers of medicine and its history. In preparation for this study and conducting a literary-critical analysis of existing works, works of other authors on the issue under study, it was discovered that similar studies have practically not been conducted by other authors, and there are no other research works, and similar studies that would have been conducted by someone earlier [1, 2]. There is nothing more wonderful in medicine than to be involved in the birth of a new life, to help a new person come into the world. But obstetrics would not be possible without a related discipline - gynecology!

In the history of obstetrics and gynecology, their development and formation, dozens of people took part in different historical periods - anatomists, physiologists, biologists, doctors, specialists in various scientific fields. In each country of the world, in different periods of time, there were and are famous scientists and practicing doctors in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and in a number of auxiliary sciences! Therefore, it is quite natural and not surprising that in honor of a number of these famous personalities, heroes of science and practicing doctors, in different years, commemorative medals were issued [1-3]. In this article, I would like to present the history of obstetrics, gynecology, embryology and reproductive medicine, through the art of medals. The materials of this research, author's article, are accompanied by large, illustrative material, in the form of screenshots of various numismatic materials made by the author of the article, accompanied by brief explanations and comments by the author of this research article. In the article itself, the author has highlighted additional subsections, thematically devoted to such important subsections as gynecology and obstetrics, both on commemorative medals and on coins.

The purpose of this research article is to present a variety of numismatic materials - commemorative, thematic medals and coins from different countries of the world and different years of issue, dedicated to both gynecology and obstetrics, and their related disciplines.

During the initial preparation for this study, its author put forward a working hypothesis, the essence of which was as follows: there is a fairly large number of the most diverse collection materials, and in particular numismatic ones, in all their diversity, thematically dedicated to both gynecology and obstetrics, their history, famous medical practitioners and scientists from different countries of the world who dedicated themselves to these two important areas of medical science. I would like to note that among the philatelic materials found, there are a significantly large number of them dedicated not separately to gynecology and obstetrics, but jointly - both on obstetrics and gynecology, primarily on congresses, conventions and other organizational events.

In conducting this thematic research, its author actively used the method of literary-critical analysis on the issue under study. For this purpose, special collection sites and Internet pages of numismatist collectors collecting commemorative coins and medals, both in general, on medical topics, and on obstetrics and gynecology, in particular, were carefully studied. All thematic numismatic materials found on the Internet were sorted, grouped, and also transformed by the author of this research, using a special computer program, into their screenshot copies, both black and white and color. These screenshot copies were used by the author of the article, later, as thematic illustrations, accompanied in the text of the research article, by brief, accompanying comments.     

Starting to present various, found as a result of the search and selection, collectible numismatic materials, I would like to start with screenshot copies of a number of commemorative medals, thematically dedicated to obstetrics [1-51]. Thus, in particular, Figure 1 shows a commemorative bronze medal, obverse and reverse, dedicated to William Hunter (1718-1783), a famous physician-practitioner in matters of obstetrics, as well as a famous scientist-anatomist [1]. On the obverse of this commemorative medal, a plot is presented, on which he is depicted in the process of delivering a child, with a group of his assistants. On the upper edge of the obverse of this commemorative medal, in English, in capital letters, is written: ANATOMIST TEACHER OBSTETRICIAN, and at the bottom, in the center of the lower edge, is written his last name - HUNTER. On the reverse of this commemorative medal, on the left, is depicted a snake entwined around a staff, as a symbol of medicine, and on the right, on a larger area of the reverse of this commemorative medal, is his name. The last name and dates of life, and under this inscription - the main types of his activities, both scientific and practical, are described - "HE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THE TEACHING OF ANATOMY AND TO THE PRACTICE OF OBSTETRICS" [1]. 

Further, in Figure 2, two numismatic specimens are presented – a screenshot of a copy of both a commemorative coin and one specimen of a commemorative medal. In memory of the Greek scientist, in 2012, the Greek government issued a silver commemorative coin, denominated 10 euros, which (obverse and reverse), shown in Figure 2A [2]. The obverse of the coin depicts G.N. Papanicolaou sitting at a working microscope, with a smear in his hands. The obverse of the coin is framed by inscriptions of his name, surname and life dates, presented in Greek and English. The reverse features a stylized cytological swab (PAP test), and frames the coat of arms of Greece, and the denomination of the coin, 10 euros, written in Greek [2]. Also, I would like to present a commemorative bronze medal of the Greek Academy of Sciences (Athens), minted in memory of this great Greek scientist. This medal, presented in obverse and reverse, is shown in Figure 2B [2].

Figure 1. Commemorative medal dedicated to William Hunter

Figure 2A. Greek 10-euro coin dedicated to G.N. Papanicolaou

Figure 2 B, С. Commemorative medal of the Academy of Sciences of Greece dedicated to G.N. Papanicolaou

While studying the scientific and medical achievements of I.F. Semmelweis (1818-1865), both by me personally and in collaboration with the famous collector and author of a number of serious articles on medal art, including in medicine and biology, Viktor Yuryevich Barshtein [3], articles were written, and there were also sections concerning the contribution of I.F. Semmelweis in asepsis and antisepsis, and his revolutionary approach to the elimination of "childbirth fever", which took the lives of thousands of women in labor in the past / This scientific research, author's article is dedicated to the preservation and increase of the historical memory of the famous Austro-Hungarian obstetrician-gynecologist, Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis, in numismatics, in the reflection of a number of commemorative, thematic, table medals, with their image, both in the obverse and in the reverse, and accompaniment to these illustrations / screenshot copies, accompanying texts [3]. Thus, in Figure 1, the obverse and reverse show the Austrian commemorative gold medal (Au, 585), dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the death of I. F. Semmelweis [4, 5]. On the obverse of this medal, in its upper bottom, in a circle, there is an inscription in German "150. TODESNAG IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS. 1865", which translated means "150 years since the death of Ignaz Semmelweis. 1865". At the bottom is the author's stamp. Also written in Latin is the word "HYGIENA-HYGIENE". In the center, in a circle on the left, there is a portrait of the scientist, turned to the right. 

In the center of the obverse of the medal, dividing it in half, is depicted the staff of Asclepius, entwined with a snake, and to the right of it is shown a scene of hand washing before childbirth, which was proposed and actively introduced into practice by I.F. Semmelweis [4, 5]. On the reverse of the medal, in large size, in the center, is depicted a double-headed eagle, as the coat of arms of Austria, under it are two capital letters of the German alphabet "A" and "R" - "Austrian Republic". Along the entire edge of the reverse is the inscription in German "GOLD AUS OSTERREUCH" - "Gold from Austria" and a similar expression in English "AURUM AUSTRIAE". There are also two hallmarks indicating that the material from which this medal is made is gold of 585 assay value [4, 5].

Figure 3. Austrian gold medal dedicated to J.F. Semmelweis

Figure 4 shows a commemorative bronze medal dedicated to the scientist. On the obverse of the medal is a portrait of the scientist, turned to the right, as well as the dates of his life and the full spelling of his first and last names. The reverse of the medal contains a stylized image of a powerful naked man, carrying a lit torch in his outstretched right hand, and in his left hand, holding a large book, between the pages of which is a large snake, crushed by them, wrapping its body around a walking man [6].

Figure 4. Commemorative bronze medal dedicated to I.F. Semmelweis

Figure 5 shows a commemorative Hungarian bronze medal dedicated to J. F. Semmelweis and the Budapest Medical University, which bears his name, both obverse and reverse. Its obverse features a head portrait of the scientist, facing right. Along the entire contour of the obverse of the medal, from left to right, there is an inscription in stylized font: “VNIVERSITAS MEDICINAE “SEMMELWEIS” “BUDAPESTINI”. The date “1951-1976” is indicated under the portrait. On the reverse of the medal, in its center, there is an image of the building of the Budapest Medical University, and under its image there is an inscription: “ANNVS. FVNDATIONIS FACVLTATIS.MEDICINAE. BUDAPESTINENSIS. 1760” [7].

Figure 5. Commemorative Hungarian medal with the image of I.F. Semmelweis

The next commemorative bronze medal, shown in Figure 6, dedicated to I. F. Semmelweis, is interesting in that its plot, presented on the obverse, depicts both I. F. Semmelweis himself, washing his hands in a bowl before delivering a baby, and another famous doctor, Oliver W. Holmes, standing at the bedside of a woman in labor, being cared for by a midwife. This scene is framed by inscriptions in English. Below, along the lower pole of the obverse, are the names of the doctors - "HOLMES - SEMMELWEIS", and above - "SAFETY IN CHILDBIRTH", which translates as "Safety in Childbirth" [8]. This scene is allegorical, since these two scientists never delivered babies together, but, at the same time, they both did. They were engaged (independently of each other) in the issues of asepsis and antisepsis in childbirth, and the reduction of female mortality from "puerperal fever". The reverse of this medal is divided vertically into two unequal parts. On the left, the smaller part of the reverse is decorated with an image of the staff of Asclepius, entwined with a snake. The right, larger part of the reverse bears inscriptions about doctors. At the top, first, there is an inscription in English: "O.W. HOLMES. 1818-1894" and "I.P. SEMMELWEIS. 1818-1865". Just below is the text in English: “THEIR INSIGHT REVEALED THE WAY BY WHICH PUERPERAL FEVER COULD BE ELIMINATED”, which translates as: “THEIR INSIGHT REVEALED THE WAY BY WHICH PUERPERAL FEVER COULD BE ELIMINATED” [8].

Figure 6. Commemorative medal in honor of I.F. Semmelweis and Oliver W. Holmes

Figure 7 shows another Hungarian commemorative bronze medal. Its obverse shows a head portrait of a doctor, facing left, and an inscription in Hungarian: "SEMMELWEIS IGNÁCZ FÜLÖP. 1818-1865". The reverse of the medal shows a naked young mother sitting on four large books, holding a baby in her outstretched arms. Along the edge of the reverse is an inscription in Hungarian: "AZ ANYÁK MEG-MENT TÖJE", which translates as "Savior of mothers" [9].

Figure 7. Commemorative medal dedicated to I.F. Semmelweis

Figure 8 shows a commemorative bronze medal, obverse and reverse. On its obverse, against a stone wall, framed by climbing ivy, is a monument to I.F. Semmelweis holding a child in his arms. In the center of the composition are the scientist's name and surname, and the dates of his life: "SEMMELWEIS IGNAC. 1818-1865". The reverse of the medal bears an image of the emblem in the center, with a snake entwining the staff of Asclepius, ending with a 

stylized image of an oval mirror. At the top is the abbreviation "S.I.H.M.", and the signature at the bottom "BUDAPEST. 1974". Along the entire contour of the reverse of the medal is the inscription “CONGRESSUS INTERNATIONALIS XXIV HISTORIAE ARTIS MEDICINAE”, which translates as “XXIV INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE HISTORY OF THE ART OF MEDICINE” [10].

Figure 8. Commemorative medal with an image of the monument to I.F. Semmelweis

Continuing my story about the medical feat of I.F. Semmelweis as reflected in medal art and phaleristics, I would like to present a new selection of commemorative medals with the image of I.F. Semmelweis and/or associated with his name [11-17]. Thus, Figure 9 shows the obverse and reverse of a bronze Hungarian medal issued in honor of the scientist. In the center of the obverse of the medal, a large image of a standing Semmelweis is depicted, who is in the delivery room, holding a flask with a disinfectant solution (chlorine) in his left hand for treating his hands. Behind him is a mother holding a baby in her arms. At the top and to the right, along the edge of the obverse of the medal, there is the inscription "AZ ANYÁK MEGMENTÕJE - SEMMELWEIS IGNÁC - 1818-1865" or "Savior of Mothers", the dates of life "1818-1865" [18]. On the reverse of the medal is a view of the former Semmelweis School. The medal has a diameter of 42.5 mm, there are versions of the medal made of silver and copper [18].

Figure 9. Commemorative medal dedicated to J. F. Semmelweis

The next figure, Figure 10, shows the obverse and reverse of a Hungarian commemorative bronze medal, on the obverse of which, on the left, is a bust portrait of I. F. Semmelweis in a Hungarian national caftan. Next to the portrait, above the doctor's shoulder, is the date "1997" and the master's initials. To the right of the line dividing the obverse of the medal in half, are the first and last name "SEMMELWEIS IGNÁC FÜLÖP" and the dates of life - "1818-1865" [33]. The reverse of the medal depicts the moment when the doctor washes his hands. He washes his hands in a basin, and an assistant pours water from a jug onto the doctor's hands. At the top of the reverse of the medal is an inscription in Latin "NIL NOCERE!", which means "NOTHING HURTS!" [19].

Figure 10. Commemorative medal dedicated to the introduction of hand washing before childbirth by I.F. Semmelweis

Further, in thematic figure 11, a rectangular, vertical, bronze, double-sided medal-plaque is presented, not the traditional round one, by the sculptor and medalist Beran Lajos, with an image of the monument dedicated to Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis in Budapest, as the “Savior of Mothers” [20].

Figure 11. Non-circular/rectangular, double-sided medal-plaque dedicated to I.F. Semmalweis

Next, in Figure 12, on the obverse and reverse, is a commemorative, double-sided bronze medal by the world-famous sculptor and medalist Avram Bielski, which is also dedicated to the memory of Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis [21]. On the obverse of this commemorative medal, there is a slightly turned and looking to the right profile of I.F. Semmelweis, under which his data is indicated, and behind him, in the background of the obverse, there is the hospital and maternity hospital where he worked in Budapest, he is a doctor and scientist. On the reverse of this same medal, there is an artistic scene, which depicts I.F. Semmelweis delivering a baby and holding the legs of the newborn, surrounded by the midwives who assisted him in this birth (judging by her clothes and equipment) and another doctor (possibly Michaelis?) [21].

Figure 12. Commemorative medal by A. Belsky dedicated to I.F. Semmelweis delivering a baby, together with his assistants

There is also a German commemorative bronze medal dedicated to the scientist and obstetrician Gustav Adolf Michaelis (Figure 13), who has already been mentioned. This bronze, double-sided medal is presented in obverse and reverse. On its obverse/front side, there is a portrait of G.A. Michaelis, after whom the "Michaelis rhombus" is named, turned to face the right. Along the outline of the medal, in German, are the surname and names of the doctor, his place and date of birth. On the reverse of the medal, in its center, there is a diagrammatic drawing of a corporal cesarean section through an incision in the lower segment of the uterus and the extraction of the fetus by the hands of an obstetrician. Along the outline of the reverse of the medal is written "QUARTUM SECTIONES CAESAREAE", "KIEL" and the dates "1836-1986" [22, 23]. On the next double-sided bronze medal, Gustav Adolf Michaelis is depicted on the obverse of the medal (Figure 13A) - 1983, together with his friend and comrade, Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis. Around their group portrait, with the profiles of both doctors turned to the right, their personal data is presented, as well as the date - 1983. And on the reverse of this commemorative medal, a happy mother is depicted, who is sitting on a bench and breastfeeding her newborn baby. And along the circumference of the reverse, from bottom to top, clockwise runs the inscription "1956. FEBRIS PUERPERALIS. HUNGARY", which means "Children's fever" [22-24].

Next in the numismatic selection of commemorative medals, thematically dedicated to I. F. Semmelweis, in Figure 14, is an aluminum commemorative, Hungarian, double-sided medal, on the obverse of which is depicted the doctor himself, as well as a happy, grateful mother, with her baby in her arms, clinging to I. F. Semmelweis. Above the head of this woman, in Hungarian, is the inscription "To the Savior of Mothers", and the entire reverse of this medal is occupied by an image of the large state coat of arms of Hungary [25].

Figure 14. Commemorative Hungarian aluminum medal dedicated to J. F. Semmelweis as the "Savior of Mothers"

Continuing with the numismatic theme and, in particular, dedicated to Ignaz Philipp Zemleweis, a number of commemorative numismatic materials, I would like to present, in Figure 15, a small, thematic selection of coins from Hungary and Austria dedicated to this great obstetrician [26-28]. These are commemorative, double-sided, silver coins of Hungary (2018), in denominations of 1000 and 2000 forints, with the same plot on both the obverse and the reverse. On the obverses of these, both coins, in the center, in large, is a bust portrait of this doctor, half-turned to the right. Above the head is an indication that these coins were minted/issued by the Hungarian bank and their denomination, 1000 and 2000 forints, and below are the dates of his life 1818-1865. On the reverse of these coins, an artistic plot is presented, with the image in the foreground of the figure of I. F. Semmelweis, washing his hands in a basin, next to which stands a pharmacy container with a solution of bleach in it, and behind and a little smaller, the silhouette of a seated woman/mother is depicted, with a baby in her arms [26-28]. Also, on this same figure 15, in the obverse and reverse, is presented a gold coin of Austria, with a denomination of 50 Euros (2008), dedicated to the memory of I. F. Semmelweis. On the obverse of this coin, in the center, a large bust profile of the doctor is depicted, half-turned to the right, to the right, above the face - the denomination of the coin is 50 Euro, and under it, a snake wrapped around a staff, as a symbol of medicine, in the middle, on the left, in the neck area, the dates of his life, and at the bottom, in capital letters, the name of the country that issued this coin - the Republic of Austria. Almost the entire reverse of this coin is occupied by a panorama of old Vienna, with the quarter and the maternity hospital in it, where I. F. Semmelweis worked, and at the bottom right, a small plot, with an image of this doctor and his assistant washing their hands [28].

Figure 15. A selection of commemorative coins of Hungary and Austria dedicated to J.F. Semmelweis

In addition, there is a commemorative medal made by the world-famous American medalist Avram Belsky, which is dedicated to the legend of world obstetrics and gynecology, Marion Sims (1813-1883). He developed and introduced into gynecological practice the technique of gynecological examination and bimanual examination. He improved and introduced a viewing spoon-shaped vaginal speculum, named after him - "Sims' speculum" [29]. The commemorative medal dedicated to him, in obverse and reverse, is shown in Figure 16. On its obverse is a portrait of the famous doctor, turned to the left. Along the obverse outline are his personal data: "J. MARION SIMS", "GYNECOLOGIST", 1813-1883". To the left of the portrait is the staff of Asclepius, entwined with a snake, and a hand holding the famous Sims mirror. To the right is an American eagle. The reverse of the medal is a complex set of images and symbols. In the center of the reverse of the medal are two "pillars" - obstetrics and gynecology. On the "pillar" of gynecology are shown in section the internal genitals and the female pelvis measured by a pelvimeter. On the reverse of this medal, also shown in section is the lower segment of the abdomen and the pelvis of a woman, with the fetus in her uterus in a cephalic presentation. At the top, between the "columns" is shown in direct projection the female bony pelvis, with an ankh cross installed in it. On the reverse side, in English, are the inscriptions "GYNECOLOGY", "OBSTETRICS", "THEORY", "PRACTICE", "EMPATHY" [29]. On the obverse of the second commemorative medal, Marion Sims is depicted with the so-called "spoon" viewing, gynecological mirror, named after him, in his right hand. Today, in gynecological practice, in all gynecological offices of the world, this gynecological instrument is mandatory in practical gynecological practice. Behind the silhouette of this doctor, on the couch, is a woman who was subjected to a gynecological examination by him, and by the wall of the office is a gynecological nurse who assisted him. On the reverse of this commemorative medal, a test is given, testifying to the medical activity of Marion Sims [47].

Figure 16. Commemorative medals dedicated to Marion Sims

Touching upon the issues of anatomy, gynecology and reproductive science, there are also commemorative medals dedicated to the famous Italian anatomist and physician, Gabriele Falloppius, after whom the uterine 

(fallopian) tubes are named, playing a significant, important role in the process of the passage of the egg through them and the subsequent process of human conception, which are shown in Figure 17 [30-33]. 

Figure 17. A selection of commemorative medals dedicated to Gabriel Falloppius

The next one, in Figure 18, is a bronze horizontal medal-plaque (1905), by the French medalist Charpentier, dedicated to the memory of the famous French obstetrician, professor, doctor Paul Segond. On the obverse of this plaque, in large size, in the middle, is his portrait, turned in profile, to the 

left, and to the right and left of the portrait, his data and the date of issue of this medal-plaque are indicated. The entire reverse is dedicated to a scene-plot, which depicts Professor Paul Segond, delivering a baby, together with a midwife and three more assistants and observers-assistants [34].

Figure 18. Commemorative bronze French medal-plaque dedicated to the French obstetrician and professor, Paul Segond

Figure 19 shows a two-sided commemorative bronze medal dedicated to the German obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of medicine, Andreas Hoop (1942-2018) [36]. On the obverse of this commemorative medal, in the center, is his portrait, profile turned to the left, and to the right and left of the portrait, his personal data are presented. On the reverse of this medal, there is a plot, on which, at the top right, is depicted the silhouette of a pregnant woman, and to the left of her and at the bottom, folded, assembled obstetric forceps are depicted [36].

Figure 19. Commemorative medal dedicated to Andreas Hoop

Figure 20 shows a silver plaque (non-round medal), 91x100 mm in size, by the medalist Dr. Bösing, dedicated to the obstetrician Kurt MOLITOR (1907-1996), depicted on the obverse of this medal. In the center of the obverse of this medal, under his portrait in direct projection, his personal data are presented. On the reverse of this medal, the process of childbirth is depicted, at the moment of its exit, up to the level of the navel, from the mother's womb [50].

Figure 20. Commemorative medal dedicated to the obstetrician Kurt Molitor, depicting the birth of a child

The next table medal (1935), in Figure 22, shows a portrait of the famous French obstetrician-gynecologist, Professor Alexander Couveller, after whom the "Couveller's uterus" is named - a severe obstetric complication during childbirth [37, 38]. On the obverse of this medal is a portrait of the scientist, turned to the left, on the reverse - a statue of a woman with a baby in her arms, symbolizing the joy of motherhood, and with an explanatory inscription along the outline of the reverse of the medal [37, 38].

Figure 22. Commemorative medal dedicated to Professor A. Kuveller

The following one-sided bronze plaque (Figure 23) depicts Dr. Edouard Cufferath (1853-1909), who was a renowned Belgian obstetrician-gynecologist. He was known as an excellent medical teacher and physician who was one of the first to use aseptic rules, which led to a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality. He also described new methods of examining pregnant women and had a set of obstetric forceps modified by him, named after him [6]. The obverse of the plaque shown in Figure depicts E. Cufferath, with a female pelvic bone and pelvimeter on the table in front of him [39].

Figure 23. Commemorative medal in honor of the obstetrician, E. Kufferat

The next commemorative plaque, Figure 24, features a French physician, Professor Adolphe Pinard, who developed an obstetric technique for the extraction of twins during childbirth, named after him, which is still used today. He was also an advocate and leader in pre/perinatal care and patient education in maternal and child health. The obverse of this plaque features his portrait. Translation, and the reverse of this plaque features a mother with her baby, with his quote "The mother's milk belongs to the child" written at the bottom [39].

Figure 24. Commemorative medal belonging to Adolphe Pinard

There are also other commemorative table medals dedicated to the world-famous fighter against papillomavirus infection, the author of the screening PAP test, the Greek professor and bacteriologist Georgos Papanikolaou [40, 41]. Commemorative medals dedicated to him are shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25. Commemorative medals dedicated to George Papanikolaou

The following commemorative medals made of nickel silver represent Professor Kurt Semm (RURT SEMM), the author of the classic abdominal hysterectomy (S.E.M.M.) – Serrfted Edged Macro Morcellator. On the obverse of both of these medals is a portrait of the scientist, information about him and commemorative inscriptions, on the reverse of the medal, in the center is a diagram of the operation and a decoding of the method for performing this operation, and on the reverse of the second medal, a symbolic sign of reproductive medicine, and two dates – 1970-1995, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the introduction of this progressive, innovative technique [42].

Figure 26. Commemorative medal dedicated to Professor Kurt Samm

Figure 27, obverse and reverse, shows a commemorative bronze medal dedicated to the professor of clinical obstetrics, Jean Baptiste Anderodias, whose profile, turned to the left, is depicted on the obverse of this medal, and below it, in capital letters, are written his first and last name. On the reverse of this medal, in the center, are depicted the seated eldest daughter and her mother, on whose lap sits her newborn child. At the top of the reverse, above their image, in large, capital letters, is the inscription in French "PROFESSEUR DE CLINICQE OBSTETRICALE", and below. Below the image, there is another inscription in French, in small, capital letters "ses collegues ses gleves sesamis" [43].

Figure 27. Commemorative bronze French medal dedicated to the professor of obstetrics Jean Baptiste Anderodias

I would also like to present, in Figure 28, two more commemorative medals of original, oval design (author Avram Belsky), with the image of obstetric and gynecological symbols - obstetric forceps, pelvis meter, curette, obstetrician's hand, dedicated to various events of medical communities [44]. 

These medals, one of which (27 a) was issued for the 100th anniversary of the New York Obstetric Society (1863-1963), and the second is dedicated to the Center of the Association of Maternity (27 b), are presented in Figure 28 [44].

Commemorative medals dedicated to obstetrics

The following bronze medal dedicated to obstetrics seems to be of very interesting thematic interest. In figure 28, on its obverse, a pregnant woman is depicted sitting, with her hands clasped around her knees. And on the reverse of this medal, she is already depicted lying on her back, with her legs spread, during labor pains, in the process of childbirth [48].

Figure 28. Commemorative medal depicting a pregnant woman giving birth

Figure 29 shows a commemorative silver medal, one of a series of commemorative medals "Pioneers of Medicine", dedicated to the operating physician, gynecologist and surgeon, Ephraim McDonnell, who, for the first time, performed an operation to remove the testicles affected by a cancerous tumor. On the obverse of this medal, the doctor, his assistant, and a nurse are depicted during an examination of a patient. On the reverse of this commemorative medal, the biographical data of this doctor are presented, and his achievements in scientific and practical activities are described [49].

Figure 29. Commemorative silver medal dedicated to the operating gynecologist and surgeon, Ephraim McDonnell

Quite rare and very valuable, from the point of view of scientific and collection value, is the bronze plaque medal (1819-1830) – figure 30, with an image of different stages of the human embryonic period [45].

Figure 30. Commemorative vertical medal-plaque with an image of different stages of human embryonic development

Figure 31, obverse and reverse, shows a commemorative bronze medal dedicated to the 20th anniversary (1970-1990) of the 18,000th endoscopic pelvioscopy procedure. This is written on the obverse of the medal, in the center of which is depicted this endoscopic device, with special scissors for taking material for diagnostic biopsy, and on the reverse is depicted the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of ovarian puncture (cyst?), performed for the first time in 1983. In the upper half of the reverse, along its edge, there is an explanatory inscription in English "VAGINOGRAPHIE SONOMORPHOGIE" [46].

Figure 31. Commemorative bronze medal dedicated to 20 years of performing 18,000 pelviscopies, as well as vaginosonography and sonomorphology

Figure 32 shows a commemorative, double-sided, silver medal dedicated to the first, modest, 10-year anniversary of the German-French Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (1976-1986), which is written on the reverse of this medal in both French and German. On the back of this commemorative medal are two portraits of the founders of this society, in profile, turned to the right. The first is the portrait of Robert Contamin (1908-1978) and behind him is the portrait of Horst Schwalm (1904-1977) [46].

Figure 32. Medal Societe German of Gynecology & Obstetrics 1976-1986

Figure 33 shows a bronze, vertical, one-sided, French plaque-medal (1946), in the upper half of which, in a circle under a stylized arch, is depicted in profile, turned to the left, a portrait of the French professor and practicing gynecologist, Frans Delporte [50].

Figure 33. 1946 Frans Delporte Professor Gynecology Medicine Medic Medal

The next one, in Figure 34, is a bronze, double-sided, round, commemorative, also French medal (1961), which is dedicated to the professor and obstetrician-gynecologist, from the clinic of motherhood and childhood, in the French city of Nancy, Henri Vermalin/Henri Vermalin, in the period from 1944 to 1961). The authorship of this commemorative medal belongs to the sculptor-medallist, G. Crouzat [51].

Figure 34. Commemorative medal dedicated to the French obstetrician-gynecologist, Henri Vermalin

This concludes another research article devoted to the reflection of obstetrics and gynecology and obstetrics in numismatics, on commemorative medals and coins. The author of this thematic article is preparing for publication a large new article about obstetrics and gynecology on commemorative badges, both of the USSR period and a number of foreign ones, in the reflection of such a means of collecting as phaleristics.

1.The history of medicine and, in particular, obstetrics and gynecology, preserves the memory of its heroes in many accessible, sometimes non-standard forms and methods. 

2. Medal art is quite informative, creative, accessible, tells the story of many doctors, scientists, areas of medicine, through commemorative medals dedicated to them. 

3. The author of this research, thematic article, managed to present the topic he studied, both the text and the illustrative part, in a fairly complete volume. 

4. This research article presents such an important section of collecting as philately, with their general presentation in the article, in the form of - 46 copies of numismatic screenshot copies. 

5. The use by the author of this research article, in the form of accompanying illustrations to the text part of the article, of screenshot copies of the collected materials found by them, is an innovative, exclusive innovation in the design of research articles of this kind. 

6. These research materials, presented by their author in this article, may be of interest to both the medical community and numerous collectors, in its various directions of collecting means and, first of all, those engaged in medical topics.

7. The author of this article managed to fully achieve the goal of his research and confirm the research hypothesis he put forward.