The presence of Ludwig van Beethoven as a symbol, and not only as a musician, is a phenomenon inherited from the Romantic period; what is pretty evident in numerous stamps and other philatelic and numismatic documents from different parts of the world, honoring the composer.
Germany is the most prolific country of them all, even though there are stamps issued in France, Monaco, Austria, African and South American nations, among others; reaching the number of around two hundred stamps devoted to the author of the Sonata for piano No.23 in F minor, «Appassionata».
He has also appeared in different coins and medals, minted in many cases to celebrate his birth or death anniversaries or just to commemorate an important eventin his hometown, Bonn, and also in countries around Europe, the United States or Asia.
Similar attention receives the personality of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose image has been used to mint coinsor issue stamps, in many cases to celebrate important biographical anniversaries.
And the fact being that the Genius from Salzburg had a dramatic lifein many ways, several artists have found in his personality a source of inspiration for their creations, being a character in novels, operas, games and films (among them Amadeus, by Milos Forman).
Just like Mozart and Beethoven, stamps and other philatelic and numismatic documents have been issued to celebrate the birth and death anniversaries of Johann Sebastian Bach; as well as coins, medals and commemorative medallions minted in his honor.
His image has also been used in diverse artistic formats and of other nature, like posters, caricatures and postcards; while in his homeland, Germany, during the 20th century, several streets were named after him, and statues and commemorative plaques were built in different countries around the world.
Busts and monuments have also been erected with the image of the author of the Goldberg Variations, shown in the stained glass windows in many churches, as well as in diverse merchandising products: watches, smoking items (pipes, cigar bands orcigar boxes), cups and pitchers, toys, and even in candies and chocolates.
Translation by Alberto Morales
