A rare and historically highly significant posthumous medal of Maria Amalia Mniszech, née Brühl (1736–1772), one of the most influential women in the political life of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the early years of the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski.
Maria Amalia Friederike was the only daughter of Heinrich von Brühl, Prime Minister to Augustus III of Poland and one of the most powerful political figures of the Saxon era. Raised at the Dresden court, she received a thorough education, spoke several languages and from an early age moved within the circles of the European political elite. Her marriage to Jerzy August Mniszech, Crown Court Marshal and one of the leading representatives of the Polish magnate elite, united two exceptionally influential political families.
Her involvement in the Bar Confederation secured her a particularly important place in Polish history. Maria Amalia Mniszech was not merely a supporter of the Confederation; contemporary accounts indicate that she exerted considerable influence on its political activities. Edward Raczyński went so far as to describe her as the “soul” of the Confederation, emphasizing her authority, diplomatic abilities and influence over its leaders. Her opinions were also valued by French representatives attached to the Confederates, including Charles François Dumouriez and Baron de Vioménil.
She died in Dukla on 30 April 1772, at the age of only 35. Her death occurred at a particularly dramatic moment in the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, during the final phase of the Bar Confederation and in the year of the First Partition of Poland. She was buried in Dukla, where her magnificent tomb has survived to this day.
The medal was commissioned by her grieving husband, Jerzy August Mniszech, as a personal memorial to his deceased wife. The Latin inscriptions do not merely record her name and dates of birth and death, but form an elaborate tribute to her piety, virtues and marital devotion.
Brilliant uncirculated. Graded MS62 by PCGS.
A true Top Pop. The only coin with the highest grade in PCGS population report.
A rare medal of exceptional historical significance, commemorating a woman who played an important role in the political life of the declining Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and in the history of the Bar Confederation.
Obverse: inscription in nine lines, around NON MORITUR NAM FAMA EIVS IN AEVVM FLOREBIT (She does not die, for her fame will flourish forever), below two torches turned crosswise downwards
MARIA AMALIA COMITIS DE BRÜHL NATA DX IVL MDCCXXXVI VIXIT PIETATE VIRTVTIBVS CLARA OBIIT D XXX APR MDCCLXXII CINERES TERRIS ANIMAM COELIS DONAVIT (Marya Amalia Countess Brühl born on July 10, 1736 lived a great life of piety and virtue. She died on April 30, 1772. She gave her ashes to the earth and her soul to heaven)
Reverse: inscription in six lines, around O BEATAM MVTVI FIDELISQVE AMORIS CONSTANTIAM (o blessed mutual constancy and constant love), below two shields under one crown, the coats of arms of the Mniszech and Brühl families, supported by a griffin and a lion
AD PERRENNEM MEMORIAM SINC CONIVGAL DOLORIS GEORG COM DE MNISZECH MOESTISSIMVS MABITVS HOC NVMISMA EXCVD FECIT (in eternal memory of sincere sorrow Jerzy, Count of Mniszech, the saddest husband, ordered this medal to be minted)
Silver, diameter 42 mm
