2646) Stanislaw August Poniatowski, Poland: The Treasures of Stanislaw August Coin Series": 500 Zloty (Gold) and 50 Zloty Silver Coins issued by the National Bank of Poland: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022:
The National Bank of Poland has brought out new Gold and Silver Proof Coins which are part of the Numismatic Collector Series titled - “The Treasures of Stanisław August.”
The Header/Banner showcases a portrait of Skarby Stanislava Augusta, the Obverse and Reverse of the two coins (500 Zloty Gold and 50 Zloty Silver), the logos of Mennica Polska "Mint of Poland" and Narodowy Bank Polska - "National Bank of Poland" (at right)
The dynamic and unique Series of Gold and Silver Collector Coins with face values of 500 Zloty (Gold) and 50 Zloty (Silver) intricately and faithfully replicates the famous 18th-century medallic series depicting the images of the Kings of Poland, which was struck on the order of Stanisław August Poniatowski.
Both the paintings and medals begin with the image of Bolesław Chrobry and end with the portrait of August III.
The medals were commissioned by the King, who instructed the Warsaw Mint to create the medals in gold.
The portraits featured were based on the artwork of the renowned painter Marcello Bacciarelli (1731–1818), which were painted 20 years earlier.
The dies were created by medallists, Jan Filip Holzhaeusser and Jan Jakub Reichel, and the result was a series of twenty-four medals produced between 1791 and 1798.
Stanisław August’s ambitious medallic series might have concluded with a medal depicting the image of the ruling monarch.
However, these plans were thwarted by his abdication, emigration and early death at the beginning of 1798.
About Stanisław August Poniatowski:
Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski 17.01.1732 – 12.02.1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 07.09.1764 to 25.11.1795, and the last monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Born into wealthy Polish aristocracy, Poniatowski arrived as a diplomat at the Russian Imperial Court in Saint Petersburg in 1755 at the age of 22 and became intimately involved with the future empress Catherine the Great.
With her connivance, he was elected King of Poland by the Polish Diet in 09/1764 following the death of Augustus III.
Contrary to expectations, Poniatowski attempted to reform and strengthen the large but ailing Commonwealth.
His efforts were met with external opposition from neighbouring Prussia, Russia and Austria, all committed to keeping the Commonwealth weak.
From within he was opposed by conservative interests, which saw the reforms as a threat to their traditional liberties and privileges granted centuries earlier.
The defining crisis of his early reign was the War of the Bar Confederation (1768–1772) that led to the First Partition of Poland (1772).
The later part of his reign saw reforms wrought by the Diet (1788–1792) and the Constitution of 03.05.1791.
These reforms were overthrown by the 1792 Targowica Confederation and by the Polish–Russian War of 1792, leading directly to the Second Partition of Poland (1793), the Kościuszko Uprising (1794) and the final and Third Partition of Poland (1795), marking the end of the Commonwealth.
Stripped of all meaningful power, Poniatowski abdicated in 11/1795 and spent the last years of his life as a captive in Saint Petersburg's Marble Palace.
A controversial figure in Poland's history, he is criticised primarily for his failure to resolutely stand against and prevent the partitions, which led to the destruction of the Polish state.
On the other hand, he is remembered as a great patron of the arts and sciences who laid the foundation for the Commission of National Education, the first institution of its kind in the world, and sponsored many architectural landmarks.
The Coins:
The Reverses of both gold and silver Coins shows the bust of Augustus II, known as “the Strong,” with his profile facing left, wearing a stock tie, a tailcoat with lapels adorned with the star and ribbon of the "Order of the White Eagle", and the "Order of the Golden Fleece" on a ribbon.
Above the portrait is the inscription "AUGUSTUS. II. ELECTOR SAXONIÆ".
On the Obverses of the Gold and Silver Coins, the Latin text is replicated from the original medal, which is translated as:
"Elected on the 27th day of June Anno Domini 1697, crowned on the 15th day of September. Under the Treaty of Karlowitz he regained Kamieniec Podolski, which had been captured by the Turks; driven out of the kingdom by the Swedish king Charles XII, he returned to the homeland Anno Domini 1709. He died in Warsaw on the 1st day of February Anno Domini 1733, at the age of 63, in the 36th year of his reign."
Encircling the centred inscription is the text "RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA 500 ZL" (gold) or "50 ZL" (silver), shown above. Below is the year of issue shown as 20 and 22, with the Polish eagle crest separating each of the two digits.
i) The specifications of the Gold Coin Variant are:
i) The specifications of the Gold Coin Variant are:
- Both the Gold and Silver Proof Coins are encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge lined card case, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
8) Pope John Paul II (18.05.1920 - 02.04.2005), Poland: Commemorating his Birth Anniversary Centenary (1920-2020) with the issue of 500 Zlotych Gold Proof Coin and 10 Zlotych (x2) Silver Proof Coins: Date of Coins issue: 14.05.2020
9) St. Mary's Basilica, Krakow, Poland: 700th Anniversary of its consecartion: 50 Zlotych Silver Proof Collector Coin and a 5 Zlotych Bimetallic Corculation Coin issued by the National Bank of Poland, minted by the Mint of Poland: Date of Coins issue: 22.05.2020
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Nice informative post Thanks for posting this interesting post."
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
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