Gold pieces from Sissi's hand
15. September 2022 14:26
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Empire of austria. Franz Josef I. 1848-1916. Extremely rare. Estimate: 25.000 Euro |
Empire of austria. Franz Josef I. 1848-1916. Extremely rare. Estimate: 20.000 Euro |
They are large gold pieces, almost 50 mm in diameter and weighing more than 52 g. One medal shows the head of the emperor with a laurel wreath, the other a bust portrait of empress Elisabeth in Hungarian coronation vestments. The inscription around these portraits states in Hungarian language that the depicted persons are the emperor and empress of Austria. In the centre of the reverse of both pieces is the Crown of St. Stephen, which is called Szent Korona, i.e. Holy Crown, in Hungarian. It is still the most important symbol of Hungarian identity and is now kept in the domed hall of the parliament building together with sceptre, orb and sword. The name by which the crown is known erroneously associates it with the crown sent by Pope Sylvester II to the first king of Hungary in the year 1000, which no longer exists. The Pope was grateful to King Stephen for making himself and the Hungarians Christians. The Holy Crown that still exists today dates from a later period. Its lower part was made between 1071 and 1078, but was later extended by two bows, on the intersection of which sits the crooked cross so characteristic of this crown. The crown has an adventurous history behind it and offers material for a lengthy novel: the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent put it on his head in 1526 after the fatal defeat of the Hungarians in the Battle of Mohács. In 1683, when the Turks laid siege to Vienna for the second time, the crown was taken from Vienna to Passau for a short time, and in the turmoil at the end of the Second World War it ended up in the USA. Only in 1978 was it returned to Hungary.
With this symbol of ancient Hungarian identity, Emperor Franz Joseph I was crowned King of Hungary in the Matthias Church in Buda (German: Ofen). The Prince-Primas of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom/Gran, János Simor, and the Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Andrássy, placed it on Franz Joseph’s head. On the medal with the portrait of Franz Joseph, the pendilia hanging down from the Holy Crown, touch the sceptre and the sword with which the newly crowned King of Hungary had to ride up the coronation hill made of Hungarian soil. Once at the top, he swung the sword in all four directions, making it clear that he would defend Hungary against any enemy, no matter where it came from. The significance of the royal insignia is matched by Franz Joseph's motto, which is rendered in Hungarian on this version of the medal and in Latin on the other one: bizalmam az ösi erénybe = virtuti confido = I firmly trust in my bravery. Below it is written: Magyar kiralyá koronáztatott Budán MDCCCLXVII = Coronatus rex Hungariae Budae MDCCCLXVII = Crowned as Hungarian King at Ofen in 1867. On the medal of Empress Elisabeth - who was not crowned with the Holy Crown; it was only held over her right shoulder - the pendilia touch two crossed olive branches. Elisabeth's motto reads in Hungarian t: boldogitó csilllagzat öbömárjai közt = Fausto sidere laeta = Under a favourable star merry. Under the crown is written: Magyar királynévá koronáztatott Budán MDCCCLXVII = crowned as Hungarian Queen at Ofen in 1867.
At this glittering coronation, which was intended to distract attention from the difficulties of the Habsburg monarchy and to end the long dispute between Austria and Hungary, gifts were exchanged as was customary at coronations. The imperial couple received from the Hungarians the baroque castle of Gödöllö, about 30 km from Budapest. It was to become one of Elisabeth's favourite places to stay. For their part, the imperial couple gave such gold medals to the most distinguished Hungarian magnates, whereas the most important personalities from Austria and abroad received such medals with Latin inscriptions. With these medals, which Franz Joseph and Elisabeth probably gave away themselves on this occasion, history becomes tangible, one comes even closer to the famous empress and her coronation as Queen of Hungary than in the famous second Sissi film by Ernst Marischka. The only pity is that it is not possible to find out who received these medals at the coronation ceremonies. Nevertheless, Auktionshaus Künker is proud to be able to present such fascinating medals that bring history to life.