The most beautiful piece of the BENE MERENTIBUS medal we have offered so far.
This is one of the first, or more precisely the second, Polish medal. Established by Augustus III and awarded on the king's name day (August 3) starting in 1738. An award medal, given for meritorious service to the welfare of the country, as stated by the inscription on the reverse "DE REGE ET REPUBLICA BENE MERERENTIBUS" ("to those well deserving the King and the Republic").
The present piece falling in the year 1759.
Minted annually (with the current year of award) on the feast day of the Order of the White Eagle.
Late, slender portrait of the king in scaled armor, with a cloak imposed over it, by Wermuth (signed WERMUTH.F. below the portrait).
Medal with preserved natural background mirror, very rare for this issue. Slightly rubbed in the background. With very good relief.
Obverse: Bust of the king with the Order of the Golden Fleece to the right, in the rim the legend:
AUGUSTUS III D G REX POLONIARUM, at the base of the bust a signature.
Reverse: table with Order of the White Eagle, above it legend:
DE REGE ET REPUBLICA BENE MERENTIBUS, in the segment the date MDCCLIX / 3 AUG.
