45.67g. 49mm. AU/XF+. Appealing example with old deep toning and minimal traces of wear.
Medalier: unsigned.
Delzanno (SKM) 89a (Ag) RR – 6-10 known specimens in private collections; Hildebrand 58.
Very rare.
Obv.: Three seated, bound captives representing Russia, Poland, and Denmark; below each captive the initials R. P. D. Behind them the bust of Charles XII to right, placed on a pedestal; in the foreground captured weapons and standards. In the background, to the right, ships with the inscription RIGA, and to the left a fortress wall in flames with the inscription HAFNIA.
Inscription around:
CAR.XII.SUEC.GOTH.VAND.R.DAN.POL.RUSS.VICT. / HAFNIA. / RIGA. / R. P. D.
(Charles XII, King of the Swedes, Goths and Wends, victorious over Denmark, Poland and Russia / Copenhagen / Riga / R.P.D.).
Rev.: Hercules standing naked, wearing only the lion skin, raising his club to strike the rearing three-headed Cerberus; captured weapons at his feet; in the background marching troops and tall military tents, and a view of a fortress with the inscriptions NERVA (Narva) and MAR: MOOLЕ.
Inscription around and in exergue:
TRES.VNO.CONTIDIT.ICTU. / NERVA. / MAR:MOOLЕ.
(With one blow he struck down three / Narva / Mar:Moole.).
At the outset of the Great Northern War, Sweden under the young Karl XII confronted a coordinated attack by three powers — Denmark-Norway, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under Augustus II, and Russia under Tsar Peter I. The coalition expected Sweden to be vulnerable after the death of Karl XI, assuming that the eighteen-year-old monarch would be unable to respond effectively. Instead, Karl XII demonstrated exceptional strategic speed and discipline by neutralizing each opponent in rapid succession.
The first campaign in 1700 forced Denmark to withdraw from the conflict after the Swedish landing at Humlebæk and the subsequent Treaty of Traventhal, restoring the regional balance in Sweden’s favor. Shortly afterwards, on 20 November 1700, Karl XII achieved a decisive victory against the Russian army at Narva, where a smaller, highly trained Swedish force broke through the Russian siege lines despite severe winter conditions. Following Narva, Swedish operations shifted to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the struggle against Augustus II, initiating the prolonged campaigns of 1701.
The medal’s imagery corresponds directly to this early phase of the war. The bound allegorical figures representing Denmark, Poland and Russia symbolise the king’s rapid victories over the members of the anti-Swedish coalition. The reverse scene of Hercules confronting the three-headed Cerberus reinforces the theme of overcoming a triple threat, translating political events into a classical visual language typical of late 17th-early 18th century medallic art. Produced during the period of heightened Swedish confidence following these initial successes, the medal reflects the perception of Karl XII as a ruler whose personal resolve and military leadership shaped the strategic course of the conflict.
Issue of interest to collectors of medals of Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland & Denmark.
Eemaldatud müügist
