A medal in an uncommon state of preservation for a 17th century item of this size, characterized by both high relief and heavy weight.
Cabinet condition, with no damage to the surface, rim or relief. The natural mint mirror is preserved in the background. Untouched on the obverse, only slightly tarnished on the exposed areas of the reverse. The beautiful presence is subtly enhanced by a delicate patina.
Work by the prominent Danzig medalist Jan Höhn junior (signed I.H.).
Made to commemorate the establishment of the anti-Turkish coalition known as the "Holy League". It was founded in 1684 after the successful Siege of Vienna by Austria, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Church State, Venice and, from 1686, Russia.
Striking not only for its size or beautiful iconography, but also for its rant, which bears the inscription: INGENTIBUS AUSIS QVO VIS MONSTRAT ITER A 1684(To immeasurable undertakings everywhere points the way r. 1684).
A specimen piece of a rare medal.
In the archives of Polish companies few quotations over the years, never in such a beautiful state of preservation.
Obverse: bust of the king in armor, cloak and laurel wreath, inscribed in a crowned wreath-like surround. In the rim in five lines titulature:
JOANNI III REGI POLONIARUM, ORTHODOXO FIDEI DEFENSORI, EXERCITUUM CHRISTIANITATIS GENERALISSIMO DUCTORI, TURCARUM DEBELLATORI, TARTARORUM FUGATORI, VIENNAE AUSTRIAE AB OBSIDIONE TURCICA A[nno] 1683 DIE 12 SEPT[embris] LIBERATORI, HUNGARIAE RECUPERATORI, POLON[iae] CONSERVATORI, M[agni] D[ucis] MOSCOV[iae] ET REIPUBL[icae] VENETIAR[um] AD BELLUM COMUNE INDUCTORI, PATRI PATRIAE, DIVO, PIO, JUSTO, FELICI, AUGUSTO SACRUM.
To John III, King of Poland, the rightful defender of the faith, the armies of Christianity the supreme commander, the conqueror of the Turks, the victor over the Tartars, the liberator of Vienna Austria from the Turkish siege of the year 1683 on 12, recovering Hungary the savior of Poland, to the Grand Duke of Moscow and the Republic of Venice to the commonality of war, to the father of the fatherland, to the idolized, pious, just, happy, most blessed is dedicated.
Reverse: three eagles with coats of arms on their chests (Austrian and Polish joined by a ribbon and Russian), below them a Venetian lion. At the top, the moon facing downwards, above a ribbon with the inscription DONEC AUFERATUR(Till it is abolished). Below a line of dense clouds a panorama of four cities with the inscriptions BUDA, CAND, CAMN and COST.
Silver, diameter 56.5 mm, weight 71.91 g