Unique Collection of Medals
This exceptional collection will be offered under lot no. 278 with a starting price of €40,000.
Collection of medals 1798–1801 (3 pcs). Charles Louis.
Celebration of the Archduke’s 30th birthday and the conclusion of peace at Lunéville. Dresden.
Gold Medal (1801)
The gold medal was struck to commemorate a significant double jubilee: the celebration of the Archduke’s 30th birthday and the conclusion of the Peace of Lunéville.
Author: Friedrich Heinrich Krüger
52.16 g | Au | 41.7 mm
Silver Medal (1798)
Silver medal 1798 commemorating the victory over the French
Author: Antonín Guillemard
26.59 g | Ag | 42.15 mm
Bronze Medal (1798)
Medal 1798 commemorating the victory over the French
Author: Antonín Guillemard
20.93 g | AE | 42.15 mm
Archduke Charles Louis: Military Commander and Industrial Visionary
This collection of medals commemorates one of the most prominent figures in Austrian history, Archduke Charles Louis John Joseph Lorenz (1771–1847). Born on September 5, 1771, in Florence, he was the third son of the Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Emperor Leopold II) and Princess Maria Luisa of Spain.
He spent his youth in Tuscany, where from early childhood he developed a profound interest in military affairs and state administration. Following the death of Emperor Joseph II in 1790, he accompanied his parents to Vienna, where his father assumed the throne, a move that fundamentally shaped Charles’s future career within the highest echelons of European politics and the military.
Although he entered history primarily as the legendary “Victor of Aspern” and the very first commander to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte, his legacy in the Czech lands—and particularly the region of Silesia—carries a fundamental economic and industrial dimension. Alongside his military triumphs, he is inscribed in history as a far-sighted visionary who succeeded in transforming martial glory into the construction of a modern industrial empire.
Founder of the Třinec Ironworks: A Legacy in Iron
As the adopted son of Albert of Saxony-Teschen, Charles became the lord of the Duchy of Teschen (Těšín). Unlike many contemporary aristocrats, he proved to be a progressive investor and an excellent estate manager.
His most celebrated visionary achievement dates to April 1, 1839, when, at his direct instigation and under his patronage, the first charcoal blast furnace was ceremonially lit in Třinec. With this act, Archduke Charles effectively founded the Třinec Ironworks.
He demonstrated remarkable foresight by utilizing local ore deposits and the abundant timber reserves of the surrounding Beskydy Mountains, thereby laying the solid foundations of a modern metallurgical industry that continues to dominate the region to this day.
Commemorative Gold Strike for the 30th Birthday (1801)
This gold medal was struck to mark a significant double jubilee: the celebration of the Archduke’s 30th birthday and the signing of the Treaty of Lunéville. The medal was designed by the renowned Dresden engraver, Friedrich Heinrich Krüger.
Auction #38 Macho & Chlapovič
This exceptional collection is part of Auction #38 Macho & Chlapovič - April 24, 2026, Prague.
