Saxe-Gotha, Medal 1696, VERY RARE

Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Frederick II, 1691-1732, Silvermedal 1696

On the marriage of Frederick II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst

Obv.Busts of the betrothed facing each other

Rev.Both family trees side by side, illustrating the connection of the two houses by touching branches

Edge lettering: FELICISSIME CONSVMMATVM SEPTIMIO IDVS IVNII ANNO M.DC.IVC.

Die by Christian Wermuth

Historical

Frederick II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg married Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst in Gotha in 1696. Together the couple had 18 children, including seven sons: Friedrich (III), Wilhelm, Johann August, Christian Wilhelm, Ludwig Ernst, Moritz and Johann Adolf. Two daughters also reached adulthood: Friederike and Augusta.

Frederick was a lavish ruler who spent vast sums of money on his court and standing army. Magdalena Augusta had a rather simple mind: she refused to have her daughter taught English, even though she was to marry the presumptive heir to the British throne, because since: "[...] the Hanover family had been on the English throne for more than twenty years, the people in England and especially at court would have to speak German as often and as well as English."

Nevertheless, the Duchess' letters to her husband (preserved in the Gotha library) testify to a harmonious and loving marriage.