An impressive medal commemorating the visit of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and his wife, Queen Luise, to Tarnowitz (Tarnowskie Góry) on 25 June 1798.
The royal couple visited Upper Silesia at that time, with Tarnowitz being one of the most important stops on their journey. By the end of the 18th century, the town had become one of the major centres of the rapidly developing Prussian mining and industrial sector. Of particular importance was the Royal Friedrich Mine, whose development was closely associated with the intensive modernization of Silesian mining and the introduction of advanced technological solutions for the period, including steam engines.
The medal was designed by Daniel Friedrich Loos (1735–1819), a distinguished German medallist and engraver who was associated with the Berlin Mint from 1768 and later served as its chief medallist. His extensive body of work included numerous portrait, dynastic and commemorative medals associated with the Prussian royal court.
Mint luster on both sides.
Obverse: bust of the royal couple, left, in the section DEN 25 IUN. / 1798
FR WILH III LUISE KUKV PREUSSEN
Reverse: winged Genius stands in front of a seated woman wearing a mural corona (personification of Silesia), at the bottom a sleeping lion, above the section the signature LOOS, in the section an inscription in two lines BRINGT SCHLESIEN / DEM KOENIGLICHEN PAARE
WAS KUNST UND FLEISS IN TARNOWITZ GEWANN
Silver, diameter 52 mm, weight 55.25 g
