An impressive gold medal weighing 5 ducats, which ties to Poland the events commemorated with it, as well as its creator.
It is the work of the famous Gdansk medalist Jan Höhn. Signed by him on the reverse with the monogram IH.
The medal was made to commemorate the largest battle of the Swedish Deluge. The Battle of Warsaw of late July 1656, during which the Polish army clashed with the joint armies of Charles Gustav and Frederick William. And it is the Swedes' ally, the Elector of Brandenburg, that we see on the obverse of this medal.
He joined the fighting in Poland after signing a treaty with the Swedes at Malbork on June 25, 1656. For Poland, this was the removal of hope for a quick end to the war. And despite the recapture of the capital on July 1 by the armies of the Republic, they were forced to withdraw after losing the Battle of Warsaw less than a month later.
This event was very important for the history of Prussia, because, as historians point out, it was the first major victory of the Prussian army in Poland and a prelude to the breaking of fief dependence.
Type with a large bust of Frederick (separating the obverse inscription at the bottom). Composition of the obverse very similar in style to the depiction of John II Casimir on the donative.
Attractive state of preservation. Medal graded AU details by NGC. No numerical note due to punch 5 stamped under the bust (ducat value designation).
Provenance dating back to the early 20th century. This is a medal from the Strother collection, auctioned in 1920, and earlier by Killisch von Horn (Hess auction, Frankfurt, 1904).
Extensive article on this issue available at grupamarciniak.pl.
Very rare.
This fact may underscore the fact that Emeryk Hutten-Czapski also included it in his collection, but had only a version in silver.
