The short reign of Stanislaw Leszczynski did not leave behind many numismatic souvenirs. This is one of the great absent typological collections, built on the model of the "post of emperors". A king who did not manage to mint coins during his reign. Whose medal issues as King of Poland are few and very rare today.
Medals commemorating the beginning of his reign were minted only four. All of them specified by Emeryk Hutten-Czapski with a rarity grade of R7. We have this one in our offer for the first time.
Two of the medals were related to the 1704 election, and two to the coronation. The latter took place more than a year after his election (July 4, 1705, at the Collegiate Church of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw), not without opposition from the nobility. As historians point out, Leszczynski had neither a serious army nor money. He owed his election to the patronage of the Swedish king, Charles XII, which is beautifully reflected in the symbolism of this medal.
On its obverse we see a simple wooden boat with the royal crown, sailing during a storm, with lightning striking from the sky. At the top is the Latin word FATA (fate / destiny). When the medal is reversed the situation changes dramatically. We have a beautiful ship coming into port. On its deck full regalia (crown, scepter, sword and royal apple), on the stern a shield with the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania. However, the picture is completed by a Swedish lion steering the ship and the inscription "REMIGE TANTO" flying above it on the flag, which Raczynski explained"by means of such a sailor."
Another interesting detail of this medal is the crown itself from its obverse. And especially its rim - plain, not decorated with precious stones. This is reflected in our history. During the Northern War, royal regalia from the Crown's treasury was taken by Bishop Stanislaw Szembek to Silesia. The coronation of Stanislaw Leszczynski took place using replacement insignia, the fate of which was started and completed by Charles XII. It was he who had them made, and after the coronation ceremony they were taken and given to be melted down for Swedish coins.
The original Polish medals of Stanislaw Leszczynski are among some of the rarest medals of the 18th century. Were it not for French medals, from the time when Leszczynski was Duke of Lorraine and Bar, only individual collections could boast of having a numismatic of this king in the collection.
