A rarer token in silver, commemorating the coronation of John III Sobieski as King of Poland on February 2, 1676.
A nicely preserved piece with shine on both sides in an old patina.
Excellent piece.
Obverse: bust of John III Sobieski in laurel wreath and armor, facing right.
JOANNES III CORON IN REG POL ET M D L 2 FEB 1676 (John III crowned King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania on February 2, 1676).
Reverse: hand holding sword on which hang 3 wreaths, laurel, oak and olive wreaths
PER HAS AD ISTAM (by those to that one).
Silver, diameter 27 mm, weight 6.01 g
Edward Raczynski writes about the circumstances of the minting of this token: "John III, who had paved his way to the Polish throne with victories, by his conduct since the Election justified the flattering expressions and emblems that we see on these medals.
The Sejm decided that the coronation of the newly elected king was to take place in July 1674, but when Sobieski, having the defense of the country in his sights, wanted to personally direct the war effort, the state postponed the ceremony until January 1, 1675, then until February 3, 1676, with the proviso, however glorious for the new monarch, that the years of his reign were to be counted from the day of his election, and not from the coronation, as was customary.
Sobieski honored the epoch preceding his coronation by conquering many cities in Podolia against the Turks and winning a glorious victory over them near Lviv on August 24, 1675. He finally arrived in Krakow on the appointed day and there, to use the words on the medal under the number 201, "after the laurel crowns he adorned his forehead with the royal crown."
The rite of John III's coronation occupied the minds of the nation all the more because it was combined with the funeral celebration of Kings Jan Kazimierz and Michal (Wiśniowiecki), whose corpses were deposited for that time in the cathedral church in Cracow.
"The bodies of the deceased Kings of their antecedents," says an eyewitness to this rite, "were visited by His Majesty King John III at St. Florian's, where he was greeted by the Krakow Academy."
"On the following day (January 31, 1676), the King and the Primate, with the Bishops and the Ladies Senators, went down to St. Florian's, having put on a coat of arms and a hat. They put the bodies of the two deceased Monarchs on the catafalque, which was built on a single cart, and led them to the castle, with tears and weeping for the last service. Eight horses in axamite capes black and dressed to the ground led the carriage; Vota with coats of arms on silver plates circa hanging were carried by various Lords. Your Majesty's King himself was on foot. The Lords of Ensigns each from his Province carried flags with coats of arms. JP. Crown Ensign carried a black flag lowered on horseback and so bringing the bodies to the castle, they were placed on one catafalque. This is how, as Monarchs of great need decentia this mournful funebral act was celebrated. Prince Primate celebrated, Prince Bishop of Cracow had a speech, making condolency and the King himself, His Majesty the King, condolebat with grief and with tears, ending the mournful speech."
"Then, having performed all the ceremonies according to the custom of Christendom, they dedicated the bodies to the earth, His Majesty King John Casimir in the marble chapel which he had begun to fund during his lifetime, and His Majesty King Michael in the Jagiellonian chapel."
"Uncontaminated is the faith servata always in the Polish people against their Monarchs, in observancy steadiness and after their death not departing ab innata generositate. Abroad in the Kingdom of France last, after the submission of the Crown to King John Casimir, from the Polish nation monstratum est pignus amoris: brought from distant countries to the native Kingdom, where the bodies of father, mother, brothers and other N. Monarchs rest, there they gave him to the earth."
