DEATH OF GUSTAVUS II ADOLPHUS

DADLER, Sebastian: Sweden , 1634, Silver, 79 mm
Obv: The body of the deceased king Gustavus Adolphus lying in state on battlefield. Above, Two angels carrying the king's soul to heaven. At the top: The Hebrew word "Jehovah" in a radiant halo. On the sides: Clouds with numerous angels among them. Between the clouds, on the road on which the king's soul is carried, an inscription:    EUGE SERVE FIDELIS (Well Done Faithful Servant). In the background, to the right: Troops leaving a battlefield. Above them, a cupid with a sword and a banner with an inscription:  VEL MORTUM FUGIUNT (Even They Flee Death).  Around: GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS MAGNUS DEI GRATIA SUECOR:[um] GOTHOR:[um] ET VANDALOR:[umque] REX AUGUSTUS.
Exergue:  NATUS 9 DEC:[embris] ANNO 1594 GLORIOSE MORTUUS 6 NOU:[embris] AN[n]O 1632.
Rev: Gustavus in a chariot pulled by three horses. The speeding chariot crushes a monster with multiple heads. At the top, to the right, two allegorical figures, Power and Faith, crowning the king's head with laurels. Above,   ET VITA ET MORTE TRIUMPHO. Around: DUX GLORIOS[us] PRINC[eps] PIUS HEROS INVICT[us] VICTOR INCOMPARAB[ilis] TRIUMPH[ator] FELIX & GERM[aniae] LIBERATOR A[nno] 1634.
Signed:   SD on the reverse on the chariot's wheel.
Ref: Wiecek 89; Hildebrand 188; Bruun 17403;  Europese Penningen # 2166; Domanig II, 328 (where he didn't notice the signature and describes the medal as not signed).

This extremely rare medal was ordered from Dadler in Gdansk, supposedly by the Swedish court, to commemorate the second anniversary of the king's death following his victory at the Battle of Lutzen.

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