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Jewel & Medal Collection - Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry
Silver Medal: Death of King Gustav III. 1782
Date:- 1782 - Classification:- Person; Death
Country of Origin:- Sweden -
Description
Very rare. The dies were originally cut by C. G. Fehrman in 1794, though the piece bears an earlier date (that of the assassination). Hildebrand (II., 202) says the dies were afterwards recut at the cost of the brethren, with funds gathered by a negro, who was under the protection of the Princess Louisa Ubrica, and who bore the title of His Highness Louis Gustaf Albert Badin. In the Swedish Grand Lodge the reigning king holds the position of Grand Master in his own right. This explains why King Gustavus III. is styled Master on the medal, though he relinquished the chair of the Grand Lodge in 1772, when Prince Charles succeeded him. At a masquerade at the Opera House, Stockholm, on the evening of March 16th, 1792, and disregarding a Masonic warning of the event, he was assassinated by a pistol shot in his side from Ankarstroem, and died on the 29th of the same month.
OBVERSE.—Draped bust of King Gustavus ITT. upon a cubic stone, the front of which is adorned with a blazing star formed by two triangles interlaced, enclosing the letter G. On the left is a naked figure of Time; he extends his left hand upwards towards the bust, as if addressing it, while his right he places on his breast. His hour glass has fallen behind him on the left, and his scythe eu the right. The cubic stone or altar rests upon a Mosaic pavement, and its base a variety of Masonic tools—the level,square, gavel, and compasses on the right, and the trowel and plumb line to the loft. On the left, just above the exergue, in small letters, “Fehrman.” In exergue, “MDCCXCII.
REVERSE.—Inscription, in seven lines, “Uproriska Wnpcn Omriagadd Mastarn WidMiduatt III. Gustaf Lefdo Sarud XIII. Dyga Dog Begratcn Wid Fell Middag XXIX. Mart” (Rebellious weapons surrounded the Grand Master at midnight. Gustavus III. lived wounded thirteen days. He died lamented, at high noon, on the 29th March).
Properties
50 mm. Silver
