MEMORIAL MEDAL OF GUSTAVUS III OF SWEDEN

KüCHLER, Conrad Heinrich: Sweden, 1793, Bronze, 56 mm
Obv: Bust of Gustavus III    GUSTAVUS III. D:G. REX SVECIAE
Rev: Tomb scene with weapons    TAM MARTE QUAM MERCURIO
Exergue:  NATUS D.XXIIII JAN. MDCCXXXXVI. SUCC. D. XII FEB. MDCCLXXI. TRUCID: D.XVI MART MDCCXCII OB.D.XXIX SUP. MENS. ET AN
Signed:  CH KUCHLER FEC / C.H.K. FEC
Housed in metal presentation shell of issue
Ref: Hild. II 230/98;  Pollard 3;  Weiss BW168

Gustavus III (1746-1792) was the King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden, and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great.  In 1766, Gustavus married Sophie Magdalen, daughter of Frederick V of Denmark.  Gustavus was a poet, dramatist and patron of the arts.  He was assassinated by conspiring nobles at a masquerade in Stockholm in 1792, an event which inspired Verdi's opera Un Ballo in Maschera.  The medal was executed in 1793, about a year after his death.

LINK to Biography of Gustavus III (from Wikipedia)

LINK to other medals by Kuchler from this series (Bill McKivor)

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