GERMANY. Death of Georg Wilhelm Duke of Silesia Silver Medal, 1675. NGC AU Details--Tooled.Więcek-29. By Samuel Koller. Diameter: 33mm. Obverse: Cuirassed and draped bust of Georg Wilhelm facing right, perimeter legend . GEORG . WILHELM . D : G . SILESIAE . LIGN . BREG . & . WOL.; signature SK below the bust; Reverse: Ten-line legend PIASTEAE . / REG . FAM . ULTIM,. / VIRTUTE . PRIMUS . / ANIMAN / DIE . 29 SETEMB . 1660 . / ACCEPTAM . / DEO . ITA . IUBENTI . / D . 21 . NOVEMB . 1675 . / ILLACHRVM . SILES . / REDDIDIT. Georg Wilhelm was the only surviving son of Duke Christian of Legnica-Brzeg. The death of his paternal uncles in 1663 and 1664 left Georg Wilhelm the only surviving male heir over the entirety of his fathers dominions. He was well-educated thus in preparation for rule. Duke Christian died in 1672 - leaving his 12-year-old son Georg Wilhelm as heir under the regency of his mother, a decision not embraced by all factions. After returning from a hunt in 1675 Georg Wilhelm came down with an intense fever, possibly the early stages of smallpox, and died. He was the last legitimate heir of the House of Piast and his lands reverted to the Bohemian Crown.<p>This medal exhibits notable 17th-century styling with great eye appeal. Its light argent surfaces are warmed by a thin layer of champagne, deepening as it edges toward the peripheries. The noted obverse tooling is evident, but not overtly distracting as the eye is drawn to the forceful bust of the young Duke and pleased by the surrounding hues. Extremely rare and highly desirable.Margolis had a few rather overt interests in his collecting of medallic art. One such theme was that of medals pertaining to mans earliest pursuits to conquer the heavens in the form of ballooning. The European exploits of the late 18th century are contained here across many different country categories. Also quite noticeable was his interest in the medallic art of Jewish engravers, such as Jakob Abraham and his son, Abraham Abramson, among numerous others. Across this selection of medals, these themes and topics will become obvious, adding further dimensions to the already intense focus with which Margolis pursued his collecting.From the Richard Margolis Collection.
