The Polish "Jadwiga" design, 1932-1934

brg5658

I recently picked up a set of restrike coins issued by Poland in 2009 commemorating the 240th anniversary of the Poland Mint. The coins feature a design referred to by most USA collectors, if not most collectors around the world, as the "Jadwiga" design. In doing research on the pieces, I uncovered a bit of information that surprised me (they do not depict Jadwiga at all)!

I summarized my findings as a blog written here.

Here is the four coin set that I recently purchased. They are quite stunning in hand.



-Brandon

SaorAlba

I want that set, it is one of my favourite designs.

LochNESS

I've seen that obv before, though I can't remember where. It may have been an ANA magazine article. Something inside my gut memory is telling me that one of the US coins was modeled after this obv. Ringing any bells, anyone?

LochNESS

Please don't make me dig through my back issues of The Numismatist ... I've already got a long weekend ahead of me

brg5658

Stumbled upon another thread here from back in May with a link to a copper pattern piece of the 1925 design. It's cool to see that these restrikes were quite true to the original design.


This pattern copper piece sold for around $5,000 USD back in May of 2011.


And the restrike:

LochNESS

I like that she has her head raised a little higher on the newer restrike, as if with pride and/or confidence.

brg5658

<< <i>I like that she has her head raised a little higher on the newer restrike, as if with pride and/or confidence. >>



It's likely just a rotation difference. It's hard to know what proper rotation is for coins with no "horizontal" legend text.

knoxy4

Great read! I just recently discovered this pattern and am quickly falling in love with it. Thanks.

Weiss

Love the design!

Here's my example in unexpectedly scarce uncirculated condition:



And my example in slightly more scarce proof :



As for the design not being Jadwiga...if you create a symbol of "perfect beauty" in Poland, and make it a young woman, with a crown, with flowing headdress of a medieval style, in an overwhelmingly catholic country, whose most beloved semi-mythical figure was a young woman queen who lived in the 14th century and who became a catholic saint...If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck.

Let's put it this way: if you wanted to create a symbol of beauty and piety in France, and you chose to sculpt a young, beautiful woman in 15th century chain mail with a cross on her breast and a halo around her head, you could say it wasn't Joan of Arc until the cows came home. But could you fault the public for calling it that?

Weiss

terribleredmonster

Weiss waits around with his finger on the button for the Jadwiga to come up in conversation.

Weiss

I WAS ON VACATION! I SWEAR!