Poland: Latest Silver Collector Coins Launch New Series Entitled Treasures of Medal-Making Art

Modelled on the collection of historic medals housed in the Museum of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the coins replicate these designs with an ultra-high relief typically seen on medals and with a matte specimen finish. The first coin that launches the series features the medal awarded to Statesman Stanisław Małachowski (1736-1809) who was one of the most eminent figures in 18th-century Polish history.

The reign of Stanisław August was a time when the country was seeking to modernise in many areas. This also applied to the royal court, its artistic setting and patronage. Following the example of the French monarchs, the King wished to immortalise his reign in the form of a series of commemorative medals, to create a medallic series of Polish kings and to award medals to prominent figures contemporary to him. As early as 1765, a monetary reform was carried out and a modern mint was built in Warsaw. Its chief medallist was from the kingdom of Saxony, Jan Filip Holzhaeusser (1741– 1792) the designer of most of the stamps, coins and medals created during this reign, and considered one of the outstanding medallists of the era. Subjects were often suggested to the artist by the king himself, who also wrote versions of the inscriptions on the medals, which were usually struck in gold for the recipient and for the royal collection, silver and, also later in the 19th century, bronze.

One of these royal suggestions to receive a gold medal in 1790 was Stanisław Małachowski who, from the time of the election of King Stanisław August in 1764, he was the holder of several high offices, including that of deputy to the Sejm or Polish Parliament, marshal of the Crown Tribunal, and then member of the Permanent Council. The crowning achievement of his career was his election as speaker of the Four-Year Sejm in 1788. On the King’s name-day in May 1790, Stanisław August bestowed upon him a gold medal. The medal’s inscription highlighted the virtues and merits of Małachowski, who had already received two of Poland’s highest distinctions – the Order of Saint Stanislaus in 1770 and the Order of the White Eagle in 1782, and Małachowski  is shown wearing both orders on his medal portrait.

The coins are produced by the Mennica Polska – Mint of Poland at their facilities in Warsaw and on behalf of the National Bank. Designed by Robert Kotowicz, both obverse and reverse sides are based on the original medal created by Jan Filip Holzhaeusser (1741– 1792). The obverse side features an image of the bust of Stanisław Małachowski in profile and engraved by Holzhaeusser. Małachowski is portrayed wearing the Great Ribbon with the Order of the White Eagle around the neck and the Order of St. Stanislaus on his chest. Along the rim, clockwise from the left is the inscription STANISL: MALACHOWSKI REFFEREND: REG: MARESCHAL: COMIT: ET CONFOEDER: POLON (Stanisław Małachowski, Referendary of the Crown, Speaker of the Sejm and Marshal of the Confederation). The inscription or legend attests to Małachowski’s position of Marshal of the Four-Year Sejm or, Parliament. The reverse side includes the centred inscription QUOD IN GERENDO MUNERE MARESCHALCI COMITIORUM VIRTUTE, PRUDENTIA ET EXEMPLO MULTA MALA AVERTIT A REPUBLICA PLURIMA BONA CONTULIT IN PATRIAM EGREGIO CIVI. HOCCE MONUMENTUM GRATUS DICAT S.A.R. A.MDCCXC (That in the exercise of his office as Speaker of the Sejm, by virtue, prudence and good example, he averted many evils from the Commonwealth and did much good to the homeland, this commemoration is offered to the noble citizen by grateful Stanisław August the King in the year 1790). Above the primary design and along the rim is the inscription RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA (Republic of Poland) and the denomination 50 ZŁ. Just under the commemorative inscription is the image of Poland’s crowned Eagle, established as the state emblem and below the Eagle on the right is the Mintmark m / w. To the left and right of the Eagle are the two digits of the year of issue, 20 and 25.

Available from the 15^th January, the silver ultra-high relief specimen finish coins are encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge lined card case, accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information on these and other coins issued from the National Bank of Poland, please visit their e-webshop.