SAMPLE gold coin of Stanislaw August Poniatowski.
Design by Filip Holzhausser with a crucible on the reverse and the maxim PROBATUS MELIOR (Proven better).
Original old minting in pure silver. Detail as befits a proof issue, with no signs of circulation. Background with mint luster, but at the same time with numerous bruises, which in the dark patina do not impinge on the overall excellent perception.
SAP proof coins are numismats of great rarity, distinctive enough to be a highlight of any coin collection, not only of the reign of Stanislaw August Poniatowski.
Obverse: bust of the king with a headband in his hair, facing right
STANISLAUS AUG D G REX POL M D L
Reverse: mint crucible with spoon for mixing bullion
PROBATUS MELIOR
Diameter 21 mm, weight 2.69 g
In the catalog of the Parchimowicz-Brzezinski duo "Coins of Stanislaw August Poniatowski", the authors write about probate issues as follows: "The main period of the creation of proof coins is 1765-1766, and the king paid a lot of attention to the appearance of future coins. The coins were to be beautiful and take into account the latest trends in European art. Since there were no specialists in Warsaw, medalists from various centers were invited to cooperate. The subject of design was all types of coins of the new ordinance.
...The second period of minting proof coins was 1771. In this year, the Mint Commission received a memorandum proposing the introduction of pure silver coins. The reason for this initiative was the massive counterfeiting of Polish coinage in the mints of neighboring Prussia. This memorandum, prepared by the Great Crown Stolnik Augustus Moszynski, proposed abandoning copper as an addition to the monetary alloy. This was to eliminate , according to the authors' intention, the possibility of counterfeiting Polish coinage. King Stanislaw August Poniatowski decided to check how coins minted in this way would look and behave in circulation, so he ordered the preparation of stamps. This task was assigned to Jan Filip Holzhausser, a royal medallicist. This one made designs and stamp sets in several variants. The idea of pure silver coins and their designs did not live to see fruition."
