Poland (Białogon Foundry) Cast Medal ND - Henry of Valois (1573-1575)

32.31g. 44mm. UNC/UNC.

Medalier: I. I. Reichel (signature on obverse: I. I. REICHEL. F.).

Hutten-Czapski 3431 (for prototype); Raczyński 609 (for prototype).

Obv.: Bust of Henry of Valois right, wearing cap with plume, draped mantle, and Order badge.

Inscription around:

HENRICUS VALESIUS.

(Henry of Valois).

Rev.: Multi-line Latin inscription:

HENRICI II. / FRANCORUM / REGIS TERTIOGENITUS, / ELECT: A.D.1573. CORON: / A.D.1574.D.21.FEBR: VIX / COMPLETIS IN POLONIA / QVINQVE MENSIBVS, ABIIT IN / GALLIAM AD CAPESSENDVM / ILLVD REGNVM, MORTE / CAROLI IX. FRATRIS / ORBATVM, TRVCIDATVS / A.D.1589. ÆTAT: / 38.D.2.AVG:

(Third son of Henry II, King of the French; elected in 1573, crowned on 21 February 1574; after scarcely completing five months in Poland, he departed for France to take possession of that kingdom, left vacant by the death of his brother Charles IX; he was killed in 1589, at the age of 38, on 2 August).

Henry of Valois (1551-1589), later Henry III of France, was elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1573. After a brief reign in Poland, he left for France following the death of his brother Charles IX to assume the French crown. His short rule linked the history of Poland and France, and he was killed in France in 1589.