Poland (Białogon Foundry) Cast Medal ND - Sigismund II Augustus (1548-1572)

32.08g. 44mm. UNC/UNC. 

An old cast from the Białogon foundry, reproducing a medal from the Royal Suite series.

Medalier: I. I. Reichel (I. I. R. on obverse).

Hutten-Czapski 3430 (R2) (for prototype); Raczyński 608 (for prototype).

Obv.: Bust of Sigismund II Augustus right, wearing cap and richly decorated attire with chain.

Inscription around:

SIGISMUNDUS AUGUSTUS

(Sigismund Augustus).

Rev.: Multi-line Latin inscription:

SIGISMUNDI I. / EX BONA SFORTIA / FILIUS UNICUS, VIVENTE / PATRE DECENNIS IN REGEM / ELECTUS, POST OBITUM / PATRIS CORONAM FEUDALEM / REIPUBLICAE FECIT, LITHVANIAM / NEXU PERPETUO POLONIAE / ADJUNXIT, JAGELLONEAE / STIRPIS ULTIMUS / POLONIAE REX ORBUS / OBIIT KNISSINII / A.D.1572. AETAT.52. / REG.24. D.18 JUL.

(The only son of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza; elected king during his father’s lifetime; after his father’s death transformed the crown into an elective monarchy; united Lithuania with Poland in a perpetual union; the last of the Jagiellonian dynasty; died at Knyszyn in 1572 at the age of 52, after 24 years of reign, on July 18).

Sigismund II Augustus (Zygmunt II August) (1520-1572) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, ruling territories corresponding to modern Poland, Lithuania, Belarus and parts of Ukraine. His reign culminated in the Union of Lublin in 1569, which created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest and most influential states in Europe at the time. He was the last monarch of the Jagiellonian dynasty, and his death ended the hereditary monarchy in Poland, leading to the establishment of an elective royal system.