The king’s bust cuirassed without cloak, with lion head medallion on the chest.
Silver, 3.43 g, 24.2 mm. Parchimowicz (2009) 1521c; Kopicki 1955 (R). Slight weakness on the reverse, otherwise AU. Luster.
The specimen is so well preserved that one can
clearly see the lion's head on the chest of the Lion of Lechistan. This apotropaic
motif, taken from Roman armour, was noticed by count Czapski on coins, but
probably no one after him. The same armour with a lion's head, although covered
with a cloak, can be seen in the famous, anonymous portrait of the king from
the Wilanów Palace, painted around 1683 (see https://www.wilanow-palac.pl/z_niewielkim_splendorem_pogrzeb_jana_iii_sobieskiego_w_warszawie_w_1697_roku.html).
