Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2023 NYINC Auction 13-16 Jan 2023
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POLAND. Gold Medallic 10 Ducats, ND (1648-68). John Casimir as Prince. PCGS Genuine--Repaired, AU Details.
H-Cz-Unlisted; Raczynski-129. Weight: 32.69 gms. Obverse: Barehead and nobly dressed bust of a young John Casimir slightly right; Reverse: Crowned globe with wing and a central eye, sitting atop a box bearing the word: "VIR- TV- S". Quite an esoteric medal produced in the weight of 10 Ducats, the origins and manufacture of this medal are obscure. Featured prominently is a bust of a young John Casimir as nobility, with the reverse inscription translating to "A destiny thus guarded is not lost," strongly implying that this was a posthumous medal produced to celebrate the life of the king. Raczynski also implies as much but does not give reason beyond a statement. It should be noted that Raczynski's example displays a loop, while this example appears to be free of any such mounts.
H-Cz-Unlisted; Raczynski-129. Weight: 32.69 gms. Obverse: Barehead and nobly dressed bust of a young John Casimir slightly right; Reverse: Crowned globe with wing and a central eye, sitting atop a box bearing the word: "VIR- TV- S". Quite an esoteric medal produced in the weight of 10 Ducats, the origins and manufacture of this medal are obscure. Featured prominently is a bust of a young John Casimir as nobility, with the reverse inscription translating to "A destiny thus guarded is not lost," strongly implying that this was a posthumous medal produced to celebrate the life of the king. Raczynski also implies as much but does not give reason beyond a statement. It should be noted that Raczynski's example displays a loop, while this example appears to be free of any such mounts.
PCGS notes repair work, and this is likely accounting from some reengraving of the devices. The surfaces are still glossy and embossed, with limited signs of wearing or friction. A rather attractive piece, and one that is made even more intriguing by the numismatic mystery surrounding it. Despite all of the wonderful collections of Polish gold that have been accumulated and the excellent secondary reference books on the subject, this piece seems to have escaped nearly all of them. Outside of Raczynski's Gabinet medalów polskich oraz tych, które się dziejów Polski tyczą: 1513-1696, this piece has appeared in no other reference book. Additionally, we were only able to trace one example that has ever sold at auction, quite likely the present one, having been offered in 1911 at a Rudolph Lepke's Kunst auction selling a portion of the collection of Adalbert Von Lanna of Prague as lot 551. As that lot is not plated, it is impossible to confirm if this is the same medal. The deafening silence speaks volumes, moving this piece past the realm of RARITY, and lofting it to its status as probably UNIQUE.
From the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection.
Ex: Swiss Banking Corporation 44 (01/1998) Lot #1309.
Possibly Ex: Rudolph Lepke Kunst (05/1911) Lot #551.
Estimate: $60000 - $100000