Medal Commemorating the Battle of Kalisz
Medallist: G. Haupt. 1706
- Silver. D-43.2. Total weight: 46.38 g.
- Мед.А-317
On October 18, 1706, the united Russo-Polish-Saxon army under the command of Augustus II and Prince Alexander Menshikov defeated the Swedish-Polish forces under Colonel Mardefelt at Kalisz, 250 km to the west of Warsaw. This was the first serious field victory over the Swedish army in six years of the Northern War. Paradoxically, five days before the battle took place representatives of Augustus II had secretly signed a separate peace treaty with Sweden. Awarding these medals of different value was the first mass distribution of awards to Russian military officers. Subsequently, the St Petersburg mint also produced a considerable number of silver medals, some of which were restrike medals while others were made using newly carved dies.