Heritage World Coin Auctions
March Signature Sale 3096 25-27 Mar 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Poland
"Prize for Trigonometry & Mechanics" gold Medal of 30 Ducats ND (c. 1760-1762) MS62 NGC, cf. Raczynski-550 (different obverse portrait), cf. HCz-5387 (R4; listed only in base metal). 48mm. 104.22gm. A prize medal which truly impresses as much today as it must have when it was first awarded in the second half of the 18th century. Part of a series of awards first donated by Prince Józef Aleksander Jabłonowski for prizes in geometry, mechanics, physics, and Polish history in 1760 in weights of 10, 20, 30, and 40 ducats, respectively, they would become associated with the Societas Jablonoviana (Science Society of the Jabłonowski Family) which he established in Leipzig. A prominent Polish noble and savant--Raczynski records over 21 books and treatises that he penned--Jabłonowski sought to promote the work of German scholars within fields of study related to Poland, as well as the professions of history, physics, and mathematics. From 1773, the University of Leipzig had the right to bestow the award. Although originally envisioned for the four disciplines previously cited, a change in the statutes of the award, effected in 1762, limited its use to only three prizes for geography, physics, and Polish history, all of which were to be presented in medals of 30 Ducat-weight. This speaks to the present specimen, clearly awarded for mechanics and trigonometry, and thus stemming from a period before the changeover.
Entirely unknown to Hutten-Czapski in gold, this medal can only be regarded as stunning. Its reliefs alone are enough to give the viewer occasion to stop and pause, while its surfaces continue to remain radiant and free of any singularly distracting flaws. For the sake of accuracy, we note a small rim bump near 7 o'clock, though this has caused relatively little disturbance to the surrounding fields, and has in no way affected the legibility of the legends. To our knowledge, this is only such gold award medal from the period to have become available in recent memory, and may well be unique as such.
Ex. Künker Auction 68 (October 2001, Lot 2334)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/poland/poland-prize-for-trigonometry-and-mechanics-gold-medal-of-30-ducats-nd-c-1760-1762-ms62-ngc-/a/3096-30428.s?type=CoinArchives3096
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 20000-40000 USD
"Prize for Trigonometry & Mechanics" gold Medal of 30 Ducats ND (c. 1760-1762) MS62 NGC, cf. Raczynski-550 (different obverse portrait), cf. HCz-5387 (R4; listed only in base metal). 48mm. 104.22gm. A prize medal which truly impresses as much today as it must have when it was first awarded in the second half of the 18th century. Part of a series of awards first donated by Prince Józef Aleksander Jabłonowski for prizes in geometry, mechanics, physics, and Polish history in 1760 in weights of 10, 20, 30, and 40 ducats, respectively, they would become associated with the Societas Jablonoviana (Science Society of the Jabłonowski Family) which he established in Leipzig. A prominent Polish noble and savant--Raczynski records over 21 books and treatises that he penned--Jabłonowski sought to promote the work of German scholars within fields of study related to Poland, as well as the professions of history, physics, and mathematics. From 1773, the University of Leipzig had the right to bestow the award. Although originally envisioned for the four disciplines previously cited, a change in the statutes of the award, effected in 1762, limited its use to only three prizes for geography, physics, and Polish history, all of which were to be presented in medals of 30 Ducat-weight. This speaks to the present specimen, clearly awarded for mechanics and trigonometry, and thus stemming from a period before the changeover.
Entirely unknown to Hutten-Czapski in gold, this medal can only be regarded as stunning. Its reliefs alone are enough to give the viewer occasion to stop and pause, while its surfaces continue to remain radiant and free of any singularly distracting flaws. For the sake of accuracy, we note a small rim bump near 7 o'clock, though this has caused relatively little disturbance to the surrounding fields, and has in no way affected the legibility of the legends. To our knowledge, this is only such gold award medal from the period to have become available in recent memory, and may well be unique as such.
Ex. Künker Auction 68 (October 2001, Lot 2334)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/poland/poland-prize-for-trigonometry-and-mechanics-gold-medal-of-30-ducats-nd-c-1760-1762-ms62-ngc-/a/3096-30428.s?type=CoinArchives3096
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 20000-40000 USD