Very rare medal from the Siege Liberation of Vienna 1683.
Silver medal, unsigned.
Above the average coin with bits of mint luster.
Obverse: eagle bearing olive branch and coats of arms of Austria and Vienna flying above scene of fortified Vienna
DIE ADLERS BURCK BESCHIRME FERNER GOTT UND UNGLUCK TREFF DIE BÖSE TURKEN ROTT
Reverse: small medallic portrait of Leopold I within laurel branches above twelve lines of text, date above
DEN 14 – IUL IST WIENN – VON TURKN BELAGERT MIT FEUER UND STURMEN 8 WOCHEN BEANG STIGT UND DEN 12 SEPT VON K M LEOPOLDO I MIT HILFF DERO ALIIRTN ENT SEZT UND DER FEIND MIT VER LASSUNG STUCK U PAGAGE DAVON GESCHLAGEN WOR DEN GOTT SEY GE DANCKT
Diameter 39 mm, weight 22.28 g
Vienna had long been a wishful acquisition of the Ottoman Empire for its strategic location along various European trade routes, their first attempted capture of the city taking place in 1529 with a failed two-week siege. In 1683, Ottoman forces made a second attempt, placing the city under siege for two months. The siege would culminate in the Battle of Vienna on 12th September of that year, a disastrous failure for the Ottoman Empire, and Vienna would ultimately remain in the hands of the Holy Roman Empire. The present medal commemorates the events of the siege and the city's decisive victory with a dramatic and beautiful "city view" design, showing the fortified exterior walls of the city, the enemy encampments, rows of cannons, and several soldiers, many of whom are mounted, riding into combat. The overall surface quality is exceptional, with vibrant, gently reflective luster shining forth from beneath a sheen of aged green-gold patina. A superb and attention-commanding specimen.
