Description

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Cristian Ramos was born in Poland 1891, covered in thick, long hair, most likely due to a rare condition called hypertrichosis. His mother believed his appearance was caused her the fact that she witnessed his father get mauled by a lion when she was pregnant. She thought he was an abomination, giving him up at age 4 to a man named Sedlmayer, who began exhibiting him around Europe.

Lionel came to the US in 1901 and began appearing with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, then at Coney Island when he moved to New York. He retired in the late 1920s and moved back to Germany, where he died of a heart attack in 1932.

• Contains 1 oz. Troy of .999 Fine Silver
• Obverse: Famous image of Lionel with “LIONEL THE LION-FACED MAN” above.
• Reverse: “FAMOUS CIRCUS SIDESHOW ACTS” on a circus tent background with the hallmark across the lower circumference.