| Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd > Auction 134 | Auction date: 21 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 1166 Price realized: 110 AUD (Approx. 72 USD / 66 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Melbourne International Exhibition, 1980, in sterling silver (25.56 g), by Stokes; Australian State Medal, 1976 (NSW), in sterling silver (35 g), by Stokes First Fleet commemorative medallion, 1987, in sterling silver (81.79 g); Elizabeth II, silver Jubilee medal, 1977, in sterling silver (29.97 g), Munura Superba reverse (rubbed o/w EF). Extremely fine - FDC. (4) Ex John J. Veltmeyer Collection Estimate: 150 AUD |
Match 1:
| London Coins Ltd. > Auction 184 | Auction date: 2 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 852 Price realized: 180 GBP (Approx. 228 USD / 210 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Medals and Medallic Covers (9) comprising Medals (5) Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales 1969, by Sandhill Imports Ltd. 110.46 grammes of Britannia silver toned UNC boxed with certificate, Man's First Moon Landing 1969 Apollo 11, 58mm diameter in silver, 71.35 grammes, Obverse: The Lunar Module, Reverse: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins facing UNC toned, officially numbered on the edge, boxed with certificate, Apollo 11 July 1969 51mm diameter in silver, 71.63 grammes, Obverse a depiction of an American Eagle landing on the moon, with olive branch in it's claws, Reverse: a depiction of the Moon WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND and the names of the astronauts, Tone EF, boxed with certificate, Royal Wedding 1981 of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer 38mm diameter Silver Proof by Birmingham Mint, nFDC in the red box of issue with certificate, Royal Visit to Russia 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh 38mm diameter in silver by The Royal Mint, Obverse: Portrait of the Queen right, ROYAL VISIT TO RUSSIA 1994, Reverse: Representations of St. George in British and Russian style, together with the Cathedral of St. Basil The Blessed, with inscription OFFICIAL VISIT TO RUSSIA, OCTOBER 1994, in Russian, Silver Proof FDC boxed as issued, Medallic Covers (4) 1975 Apollo/Soyuz Space Link-up comprising Crown-sized Silver Medal, USA 10 Cent stamp and Russian 20 Kopek stamps on the commemorative envelope, inside the blue card holder of issue, USA 1976 Bicentenary of Independence Day comprising 32mm diameter sterling silver medal showing the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the successor to the original document, UNC on the commemorative envelope with a set of 4x 13 cent stamps, which were cancelled on the day of issue, 1976 Day of the Concorde comprising Silver medal 39mm diameter Proof like UNC with Bahrain and GB stamps, UNC in the blue folder of issue, 1976 USA Bicentenary/Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth II comprising 39mm Silver medal by the Birmingham Mint, and 11p stamp, on the commemorative envelope of issue in blue folder, along with Silver Stamp Ingot 1977 by Danbury Mint of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee 10p stamp, 62mm x 45mm in sterling silver 74.08 grammes, UNC with some toning, with accompanying First Day Cover with 4x stamps 13p, 11p, 10p and 8½p, in the Danbury Mint box of issue with their certificate Estimate: 180-280 GBP Starting price: 180 GBP |
Match 2:
| Spink > Auction 392 | Auction date: 14 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 204 Price realized: 35,000 USD (Approx. 31,976 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Edward VIII (1936), Winchester College, The King's Gold Prize Medal, 1936, awarded to Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC*, by Thomas Humphrey Paget and Bertram Wyon, EDWARDVS VIII REX ET IMPERATOR HONOREM PROPONIT, 'classical' bare head left, rev. the tomb of William of Wykeham, ETIAM SEPULTI VIVIT FAMA WYKEHAMI OB MCCCCIV in three lines in exergue [\Even buried the fame of Wykeham lives, died 1404"], 49mm., 86.35g., [Unhallmarked, Spink XRF: 18ct. Gold, London (Royal Mint)], struck retrospectively on 2 March 1937, edge largely plain but inscribed upwards C. I. W. SETON-WATSON. 1936. in New Roman capitalised script 9 and 4 o'clock (BHM - [cf. 4383/3720]; Eimer - [cf. 1240]; Jeremy Cheek, 'Royal Prize Medals', BNJ, 2018, pp. 175-188), faintly hairlined and lightly wiped in otherwise lustrous, original fields, an unfortunate but largely imperceptible scratch above Wykeham, otherwise extremely fine and much as issued, OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, as a 'one-year type' of which only two examples were struck off in gold for English and Latin Speech at Winchester College, the oldest continuously operating patron of an annual Royal Prize Medal, and whose unique obverse legend: 'Edward VIII, The King and Emperor Proposes this Honour' elevates this prestigious award to truly exalted numismatic heights especially when viewed alongside the approved 'Coin Portrait' in a format larger even than his legendary Pattern Five-Pounds, and critically struck in gold, by and housed in, the Royal Mint official case of issue with the stunning and seldom-encountered Edward VIII Cypher in gold-letter Provenance The Estate of Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC and Bar (1918-2007). Christopher was born 6 August 1918, the younger son of Robert William and Marion Esther Seton-Watson. He was baptised at St Margaret's (Westminster) on 7 October that same year. Prior to education, he resided at No. 1 Buckingham Street, Buckingham Gate, London. His father, often writing under the pseudonym 'Scotus Viator' from here, proved a troublesome thorn in the side of the British Government for his outspoken beliefs on a federal solution to Austro-Hungary. Conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917, his allies soon rescued him to the Intelligence Bureau of the War Cabinet and the Enemy Propaganda Department. It was during this posting that Marion would fall pregnant and Christopher would be born. Whilst his second son was still an infant, Robert journeyed to Paris on his own diplomatic mission for the Peace Conference of July 1919. He continued to rile European officials with his jibe about the 'pygmies of Paris', but equally sought the renewal of friendships with ministers of the new state of Czechoslovakia. His allies Tomáš Masaryk would become the first premier; and Edvard Beneš its Foreign Minister. Unsurprisingly Seton-Watson Senior would prove instrumental in the establishing the post-war frontiers of Yugoslavia and Italy. Robert separately established the School of Slavonic Studies and from 1922 held its post as the first Masaryk Chair of the Faculty. Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Robert devoted his time to academic teachings; although was reportedly unpunctual, untidy, and too preoccupied with other matters". Unsurprisingly, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's later policy of appeasement to Nazi Germany about the subject of Czechoslovakia, found in Seton-Watson one of his governments most pointed critics. This lead to his publication of "Britain in Europe: 1789-1914 - A Survey of Foreign Policy, 1937, in which he argued for the strengthening of the enforcement role of the League of Nations as a 'united European front against the disturbers of the peace'; in short to be an active deterrent against the 'inverted Bolshevism of Italy' and naked aggression of Germany. Following the Second World War, Seton-Watson lamented the loss of the former Easter blocs new-found democratic freedoms, retiring to the Isle of Skye where he died in 1951. With the pursuit of geo-political and military history firmly embedded within the traditions of this family, it is unsurprising to see first Hugh (born 1916), and then Christopher follow in their father's footsteps. Educated at Horris Hill, Christopher became a scholar of Winchester College in 1931. In the Summer of 1936, Christopher would receive this prestigous King's Gold Prize Medal for Latin Verse; and subsequently serve as Head Boy, or 'Aule Prae' until he left the school the following year. His academic record was excellent - having further distinguished himself in History and Latin Speech; a School Exhibition; and as the recipient of the main Classical Prize for an Old Wykehamist - the Goddard Scholarship. The following year, Christopher commenced his Bachelor degree at New College, Oxford with the study of Classics and PPE, and helpfully where his elder brother Hugh was already working as a lecturer. Also revealed on the 1939 Census is the fact Christopher had joined the Officer Training Corps as a Cadet. This would expedite his transition into the colours upon the outbreak of hostilies in September 1939. The history of the Winchester College Prize Medal dates to at least as early as the first decade of the reign of King George III in the 1760s. However, it was not until 1797, that the Prince of Wales (the then Prince Regent) took up the patronage of the award and the addition of HONOREM PROPONIT ("Proposes the Honour") was made to the design. This Royal Prize Medal is the oldest of the now 24 annual awards bestowed by the Sovereign across the Armed Forces, Education, Architecture, Science, Poetry and Geography. As noted by Christopher Eimer (Author, British Historical Medals): "the medal was established by the Prince of Wales... two each in gold and silver, to be awarded in gold for Latin speech and in silver for Latin prose; the other two medals to be awarded for English, gold for speech, silver for verse, these to be awarded in alternate years." Today, Winchester College preserves an early example of the award for 1801, stating the transitional legend 'HONOREM PRINCEPS PROPONIT' and the device of the Prince of Wales (the Ostrich Feathers). When the Prince Regent became King George IV in January 1820, the bestowal of the Prize Medal became the preserve of the Sovereign, a tradition that endures to the present day over two centuries later. The present design was updated by Bertram Wyon during the reign of Queen Victoria to depict the tomb of school founder William of Wykeham, who died in 1404. Winchester College also preserves a small collection of prize medals from the reign of King George V (1919); King George VI (1945) and the late Queen Elizabeth II (2008). As Cheek notes: "Laurence Brown went to great lengths to define which medals should or should not be included in his book. Generally prize medals were excluded, as he felt that if he did not do so the book would never be complete or be published. However his overriding consideration was that medals of national importance would be included. As Royal Prize Medals were thought to be of national importance they were there confusingly in both categories. The result was that Royal Prize Medals issued during the reigns of George IV (1820-30) to George VI (1936-52) were included in BHM.... He continues: "There are also other Royal Price Medals not listed in BHM and not present in the following set: those medals produced with the effigy of Edward VIII, of which twenty-six were produced late in 1937. Equivalent issues to nos. 1-7, 10-12, 14-16, 18 and 20-21 were produced bearing the effigy of Edward VIII; no Edward VIII medals were produced for the Royal Geographical Society (Founder's Medal); the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Police Essay Competition or the Poetry Medal. A Royal Household Long and Faithful Service medal of Edward VIII was produced but never awarded; there is an example in the Royal Mint Museum. The other medals listed in the set described below were only initiated after the abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936. Laurence Brown was an assiduous researcher and I am sure that the omission of these medals from BHM was deliberate, presumably because he believed that they should be considered as Patterns for medals that were not issued, and thus lay outside the scope of his book. However since the publication of BHM two examples of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII have appeared at auction inscribed with receipients' names, so it would appear that at least two were in fact awarded. There are no specimens of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII in the Royal Collection." Corpus: 1. Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst) 2. Britannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth); Awarded to Peter S Wilson; Morton & Eden, Auction 8, 25 May 2004, lot 133 (£6,200 HP); Joseph S Giordano Collection 3. Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) 4. King Edward VIII School (King's Lynn) The abdication of King Edward VIII on the 11 December 1936 brought to an end a tumultous 325-day reign. The termination of his reign brought with it the logistical headache of scrapping his approved effigy for a replacement in the likeness of King George VI. Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint (1922-1938), Sir Robert Arthur Johnson conceded: "The work of the two artists was all but completed when the events of last December rendered it nugatory. Over 200 dies of coins, medals and seals were thus rendered useless and the Mint was faced with the task of securing portraits of his present Majesty with but limited time available." He added in the same December 1937 interview shortly before his death: "I am betraying no profound secret in stating that the coinage effigy of the former King was, at his personal wish, prepared facing to the left. But as there has been no coinage bearing the bust of the former King, the old tradition has maintained by showing the effigy of the present monarch facing in the same direction as the last monarch but one. The new King's effigy faces left, as did those of King George V and Queen Victoria, a fact which is surely one of the most happy augury." He concluded: "During 1936, in the early stages when the coinage for King Edward was in question, I was made aware that some desire existed for a complete departure from the heraldic tradition which has been associated for several centuries with our principal coins." Based on surviving Royal Mint Archives, Official Gazette entries, contemporary newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts, the following timeline can be reconstructed for the numismatic and philatelic record of the short-lived King's reign. 20 January 1936 - At five minutes to midnight, King George V dies at Sandringham and his eldest son David, Prince of Wales becomes King Edward VIII. Thursday, 6 February 1936 - An official at the General Post Office informs the Daily Telegraph, that: "New postage stamps and postal orders bearing the portrait of King Edward VIII are not likely to be issued until the end of the year. It can also be authoritatively stated that no mourning stamps are to be printed. The annual sale of stamps in Britain totals 7,000,000,000. Postal orders number 225,000,000. Of the 70,000 letter boxes in the country, comparatively few will bear King Edward's initials for some time. New boxes will do so. Letter boxes bearing the inscription E.R. VII are still in existence, and there are still a few old ones marked V.R. On the 9,000 mail vans, the Royal initials will be altered as the vehicles are repainted." It is estimated that only 271 post-boxes bearing the cypher of Edward VIII were eventually produced. The same day, the 4th Winter Olympiad is opened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by Adolf Hitler. Friday, 21 February 1936 - "The King received Sir Robert Johnson, Deputy Master of the Royal Mint at Buckingham Palace, and inspected a plaster cast of his own head, which had been prepared at the Mint. The cast will, with Royal Approval, be used not only for the new coins, but also in the preparation of dies for medals and other purposes." Friday, 13 March 1936 - "The King has approved two designs for the new Royal cypher: "E.R. VIII.". The War Office will make known to the public next week the designs submitted by Garter King of Arms which have been approved by the King. One Cypher in plain modern block letters surmounted by the Imperial Crown, will be used by the postal authorities and Government offices, Embassies, Legations and Consulates abroad, and by Dominions, India and the Crown Colonies. The other cypher follows the traditional style of interlocked initials with oak-leaf fringes. This will be used by the armed forces and the constabulary of the Empire." Tuesday, 28 April 1936 - The King sat at Buckingham Palace for the two medallionists [Thomas Humphrey Paget and Percy Metcalfe] of the Royal Mint, for the head which will appear on the new coinage and the medals which will be granted by King Edward the Eighth. Friday, 1 May 1936 - In what is estimated to be a £1,000,000 stimulus to the manufacting and stationery industry of Britain, the first printed examples of the King's Cypher appear in circulation. Saturday, 30 May 1936 - Bradford Post Office becomes the first building in Britain to feature the King's new cypher. Monday, 20 July 1936 - The Annual Swan Voyage of His Swan Master's Skiff along the River Thames exhibits the new Royal Cypher 'in red surmounted by a gold crown'. Friday 31 July 1936 - Sir William Currie, Chairman of the Worcester Committee announced that the King had been graciously pleased to become the patron of [Thames Nautical College, H.M.S.] Worcester. The King's gold medal was won by Kenneth Hodson. "A letter from the Secretary of the King's Privy Purse was read explaining that the medal could not be presented yet as a new one had to be cast bearing King Edward's head." This same medal was later sold by Sotheby's at an auction of 5 July 1994 (lot 211) and is believed to remain in a Private British Collection. Friday, 7 August 1936 - The King approves the uncrowned effigy submitted by Mr Thomas Humphrey Paget for his coins and medals, and the designs for the reverse of the new silver coinage by Mr George Kruger Gray. Tuesday, 1 September 1936 - Edward VIII's uncrowned effigy is released on stamps at midnight, featuring the series of halfpenny, threehalfpenny and twopence-halfpenny. London's three 'all-night post offices' in Fleet Street were besieged by collectors with queues forming two hours beforehand. "The issue was regarded as the greatest success of any recorded by the Post Office as over 30,000,000 stamps were sold on the first day." The following day however, critics were quick to note: "The head of the King is far from being the best photograph that has ever been taken and makes him appear more youthful than he really is. People are asking why there could not have been a break from tradition. Why always a face in profile? Why not full face, with the King wearing that boyish smile which has endeared him to millions? The new Australian stamp shows the King full face, so why not the English?" The Belfast Newsletter notes: "People are expressing the hope that a little more imagination will be displayed in the preparation of the new King Edward coins than has been manifested in the printing of the new stamps." Monday, 14 September 1936 - The penny stamp of Edward VIII is released. Wednesday, 16 September 1936 - The Royal Mint submits proposals to the Treasury for a new larger Threepence coin. An official stated: "the size is midway between that of a sixpence and a shilling. Efforts are being made to find a distinctive edge for the coin. The metal to be used has not yet been decided upon. The new coin will not however be made of silver or nickel." As Prince of Wales, Edward had described the silver issue, colloquially dubbed a 'joey' as an 'annoying coin'. Monday, 8 December 1936 - The Official Gazette, Notice No. 769 states: His Majesty the King has approved the issue of the customary official medal to commemorate His Majesty's Coronation. The medal will show on the obverse the crowned effigy of His Majesty with legend, and on the reverse the gateway of St James's Palace. "The Royal Mint are prepared to accept orders for these medals in Gold, large size, diameter 2.5 inches, price 50 guineas; small size, diameter 1.25 inches, price 12 guineas." Notice No. 770, states: "It has been announced that His Majesty the King will broadcast a message to the Empire on the day of his Coronation, Wednesday 12 May 1937. This will be His Majesty's first act after the Coronation ceremony is over. It is understood that a message to the Empire will not be broadcast by His Majesty at Christmas." Wednesday, 10 December 1936 - King Edward VIII signs his 'Instrument of Abdication' Thursday, 11 December 1936 - King George VI acceeds to the throne Tuesday, 2 March 1937 - The Royal Mint produces the obverse die hub for the Winchester College, King's Prize Medal. As each Royal Award is the preserve of the incumbent Sovereign, it is elected to retrospectively strike the medals with the 'classical' uncrowned effigy of the former King Edward VIII for those awarded in 1936. These are distributed to recipients over the following month. i) The Royal Collection boasts the artist's approval in gilt metal of King George VI sent for the monarch's personal assent (RCIN 443736). No artistic trials of Edward VIII were produced for the same purpose as the medals were to be produced retrospectively. ii) Spink has offered Marcus William Dick's, 1938 award in 2014, lot 628 iii) Spink has offered John Christopher Dancy's, 1939 award in 2021, lot 8110 Estimate: 15000 - 20000 USD |  |
Match 3:
| London Coins Ltd. > Auction 183 | Auction date: 2 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 719 Price realized: 130 GBP (Approx. 164 USD / 152 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Medals (6) 1995 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 53.3 grammes of 0.925 Silver Proof FDC, 1987 Tercentenary of the Revival of the Order of the Thistle 63mm diameter in bronze by the Royal Mint, Toned Finish UNC, 1988 400th Anniversary of the Spanish Armada 63mm diameter in bronze by the Royal Mint, Toned Finish UNC, 1990 Bicentenary of the Launch of 'The Original' Lifeboat, 63mm diameter in bronze by The Royal Mint, Toned Finish UNC, 1990 175th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo 63mm diameter in bronze by the Royal Mint, Toned Finish UNC, 1994 Tower Bridge Centenary 63mm diameter in bronze by the Royal Mint, Toned Finish UNC, in the Royal Mint boxes of issue with certificates, Medals a 2-piece set 1988 comprising Dublin City Millennium 988-1988 63mm diameter in bronze, by the Royal Mint, and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 1038-1988 63mm diameter in bronze, Toned Finish UNC in the Royal Mint box of issue with certificates, Medallic Covers (2) 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee comprising Crown-sized Silver medal and set of 4 x stamps 13p, 11p, 10p and 8 1/2p, on the commemorative envelope as issued in the silver Birmingham Mint wallet, 1979 International Year of the Child comprising Crown-sized Silver Medal nFDC and set of 4 x stamps 13p, 11p, 10 1/2p and 9p on the commemorative envelope as issued in the red Birmingham Mint wallet Estimate: 70-100 GBP Starting price: 70 GBP |
Match 4:
| Salon Numizmatyczny Mateusz Wójcicki > Auction 13 | Auction date: 9 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 330 Price realized: 11,401 EUR (Approx. 12,497 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Medal from the Royal Suite, Louis of Hungary - RARE, SILVER, Holzhäeusser Rare SILVER medal from the Royal Suite series with an image of Louis of Hungary, by Holzhäeusser, signed with the initials IPH The Royal Suite is one of the most desirable and sought-after medal series in Polish numismatics; the medals included in it appear on the auction market extremely rarely and always arouse a lot of emotions. On Onebid, only two records in SILVER. Beautifully preserved with an intense mint luster.. Excellent details. Light surface hairliness. The offered specimen is in the most beautiful condition of all those offered so far. Obverse: royal bust wearing crown and mantle, facing right, initials IPH below LUDOVICUS HUNGARUS (Louis the Hungarian) Reverse: inscription in fifteen lines DE STIRPE GALLICA ANDEGAVENSI CAROLI HUNGARIAE REGIS FILIUS, ET REX HUNGAR CASIMIRI MAG EX SORORE ELISABETHA NEPOS, ORDINEM EQUESTREM IN POLON PLURIBUS PRIVILEGIIS ORNAVIT. OBIIT TYRNAVIAE AD 1382. AETAT 56. REG IN POLON 12. D 12. SEPTEMB. (From the French house of Anjou, son of Charles, king of Hungary, king of Hungary, Casimir the Great, nephew of Elizabeth's sister, he decorated the knighthood in Poland with many freedoms. He died in Trnava in the year of our Lord 1382, at the age of 56, having reigned in Poland on the 12th day of September 12 .) Silver, diameter 45 mm, weight 38.50 g Rzadki medal SREBRNY z serii Suity Królewskiej z wizerunkiem Ludwika Węgierskiego, autorstwa Holzhäeussera, sygnowany inicjałami I.P.H. Suita Królewska należy do najbardziej pożądanej i poszukiwanej serii medalierskiej w polskiej numizmatyce, medale wchodzące w jej skład pojawiają się na rynku aukcyjnym niezwykle rzadko i zawsze budzą sporo emocji. W serwisie Onebid, tylko dwa notowania w SREBRZE. Pięknie zachowany egzemplarz z wybitnie intensywnym lustrem medalowym, które sprawia, że medal prezentuje się wyśmienicie. Otwarte powierzchnie delikatnie przetarte, typowa cecha wielu medali okresu Polski Królewskiej. Detale znakomite, absolutnie nieruszone obiegiem. Oferowany egzemplarz stanowi nie tylko rzadką pozycję w obszarze medali Polski Królewskiej, ale również jest jednym z najlepiej zachowanych medali Suity Królewskiej wybitej w srebrze, który gościł na aukcjach w Polsce. Znakomita propozycja dla zaawansowanych kolekcjonerów! Piękny numizmat! Awers: popiersie Ludwika Węgierskiego w prawo, w koronie węgierskiej, z włosami do ramion, z krótką brodą i wąsami, w sukni zapinanej na guziki, z niewielkim kołnierzem, na sukni płaszcz bramowany bogatym pasem haftu, spięty klamrą, poniżej inicjały I.P.H. LUDOVICUS HUNGARUS (Ludwik Węgierski) Rewers: napis w piętnastu wierszach DE STIRPE GALLICA ANDEGAVENSI CAROLI HUNGARIAE REGIS FILIUS, ET REX HUNGAR CASIMIRI MAG EX SORORE ELISABETHA NEPOS, ORDINEM EQUESTREM IN POLON PLURIBUS PRIVILEGIIS ORNAVIT. OBIIT TYRNAVIAE A D 1382. AETAT 56. REG IN POLON 12. D 12. SEPTEMB. (Z domu francuskiego Andegaweńskiego, syn Karola, króla węgierskiego, król węgierski, Kazimierza Wielkiego z siostry Elżbiety siostrzeniec, stan rycerski w Polsce wielu swobodami ozdobił. Umarł w Trnawie roku pańskiego 1382, mając lat 56, panowawszy w Polsce 12, dnia, 12 Września.) Srebro, średnica 45 mm, waga 38.50 g Pierwsza suita medalowa przedstawiająca królów polskich powstała z inicjatywy Stanisława Augusta Poniatowskiego, który pod koniec lat siedemdziesiątych XVIII wieku, powierzył jej wykonanie nadwornemu medalierowi Janowi Filipowi Holzhaeusserowi. Na rewersach suity umieszczono sentencje łacińskie, sławiące czyny i zasługi portretowanej osoby, których autorem był sam Stanisław August Poniatowski. Holzhaeusser wykonał pierwsze jedenaście medali, a po jego śmierci w 1792 roku, pozostałe dwanaście w latach 1792-1795 wykonał już Jan Jakub Reichel. Pani Marta Męclewska w swoim opracowaniu 'PRAWDA I LEGENDA O MEDALIERSKIEJ SERII KRÓLÓW POLSKICH Z CZASÓW STANISŁAWA AUGUSTA' pisze tak: '...Swą nową serię medalierską Stanisław August wplótł, z pewnością nieprzypadkowo, w dwie dekady wcześniejszy program dekoracji Pokoju Marmurowego w Zamku Warszawskim. Z aury wieku oświeconego wynikał dobór monarchów zarówno do ozdoby Pokoju Marmurowego, jak i do serii medalowej. Brak władców legendarnych, potem średniowiecznych, nawet tych koronowanych (szereg królów jest nieprzerwany dopiero od Władysława Łokietka), mówi o świadomym ograniczeniu się do tych, którzy sukcesami najdobitniej zasłużyli się w dziejach Polski. Było to zgodne z duchem krytycznego, opartego na dokumentach pisanych oświeconego historyzmu. Adam Naruszewicz, przesyłając królowi w 1777 r. pierwszy brulion Historyi narodu polskiego, pisał: „Historyja Piastów aż do Kazimierza Wielkiego prawdziwie jest historią samych wojennych rozbojów bez nauki, prawodawstwa, rządu, ekonomiki [,..]'. Dwadzieścia dwa portrety w Pokoju Marmurowym Zamku (a zatem i medale) oddają hołd i admirację poprzednikom Stanisława Augusta, lecz w równej mierze wyrażają własne ambicje króla - wszak naczelne miejsce w kręgu monarchów zajmuje kilkakrotnie większy od pozostałych wizerunek aktualnie panującego w stroju koronacyjnym. Powstaje więc pytanie, czy i serii medalierskiej nie miał zamykać medal okazalszy z portretem Stanisława Augusta? Zauważalny jednak jest brak wśród wszystkich medali z panowania Stanisława Augusta dzieła prezentującego króla w pełnym majestacie. Piękniejsze bywają jego popiersia na obiegowych talarach. Na kilkudziesięciu medalach okazjonalnych czy nagrodowych jawi się czysto klasycystyczna w stylu głowa Stanisława, z rzadka tylko ozdobiona wieńcem laurowym. Wspanialsze portrety wykonywał, nb. na zlecenie królewskie, nadworny medalier Jan Filip Holzhaeusser, np. dla Stanisława Lubomirskiego, Szymona Bogumiła Zuga, lub - o ironio - Fryderyka Wilhelma II (w 1786). Gdyby porównać to z medalami współczesnych mu władców europejskich, Stanisław August jawi się po prostu skromnie. Zachowało się natomiast jedyne, lecz jednostronne tylko odbicie w srebrze (oraz model woskowy przechowywany w Ermitażu) wielkiego (średnicy ok. 80 mm) medalu ze Stanisławem Augustem w majestatycznym ujęciu popiersiowym, sygnowanym przez Holzhaeussera. Nie wyszło ono poza mennicę i nie nosi żadnej daty. Supozycja więc kilku poważnych badaczy (M. Gumowski, A. Więcek), że medal ten przygotowywany był jako zamknięcie serii medalierskiej, a deliberowano tylko nad wypełnieniem strony odwrotnej, jest atrakcyjna, lecz niczym niepotwierdzona. Niewielkie przecież analogie do portretu koronacyjnego w Pokoju Marmurowym można na tym medalu odnaleźć. Natomiast Stanisław Leszczyński do serii medalierskiej dostał się jakby „bocznym wejściem'. Jeszcze w 1797 r. zarówno administrator mennicy Antoni Schroeder, jak i sam król piszą o tej serii, nie wymieniając Leszczyńskiego. Około więc roku wyjazdu króla do Petersburga lub roku jego śmierci postanowiono dodać Leszczyńskiego do serii. Trudno przychodzi znaleźć pierwowzór do tego medalu. Rapnicka sugeruje przetworzenie na nim wizerunku Stanisława I z cyklu 20 portretów, być może pędzla J. B. Plerscha, które dekorowały korytarze zamkowe. Medalierowi Reichlowi mogły też służyć graficzne wyobrażenia - Christopha Weigla lub anonimowego autora XVIII-wiecznego, z którymi medal „wykazuje podobieństwo w ujęciu postaci króla, stroju i jego akcesoriów'. Na pozostałych 22 medalach tworzonych wg obrazów Bacciarellego widzimy - jak je nazywano w epoce - „portrety boczne', tj. z profilu, sprowadzone do formy okręgu, przy zachowaniu najważniejszych atrybutów i insygniów umieszczonych na obrazach, a nawet przy zwrocie głowy w tę samą stronę, co na portrecie. Medalierskie portrety są bardzo poprawne stylistycznie i technicznie, wierne szczegółom: umierający rycerz Władysław Warneńczyk na medalu również krwawi z rany na skroni. Medalier przy rytowaniu stempli mógł korzystać z pomocy rysunków (ołówkowych i czarną kredką) Jana Szeymetzlera, powstałych w latach 1781-1783. Są to wierne przerysy, zmniejszone do wygodnych wymiarów około 44 x 35 cm, obejmujące wszystkie 22 portrety dawnych królów, oraz jako 23., sprowadzony do popiersia, fragment portretu koronacyjnego Stanisława Augusta. W tym miejscu powróćmy do pytania o medal z portretem Stanisława Augusta. Byłby on 24. w serii. Zastanawia - może zbyt swobodnie tu przywoływana - zbieżność z rachunkiem wystawionym 17 września 1797 r. królewskiemu introligatorowi Kilemannowi za 4 futerały na 24 sztuki medali. Pudło takie musiało mieć wielkość co najmniej 25 x 40 cm. Zachowało się inne, piękne puzdro numizmatyczne Stanisława Augusta na 40 sztuk wielkości talara, ozdobione na wierzchu superekslibrisem królewskim o podobnych wymiarach 25 x 38 cm.'Reference: Hutten-Czapski 3422 (R3), Raczyński 600 Grade: AU Starting price: 4729 EUR |  |
