Hungary, Empire. A Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary Medal

Bronze, obverse illustrating Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary surrounded by the inscription "RUDOLF TRÓNŐRŐKŐS A KIÁLLITAS VÉDNŐKE", reverse illustrating the Royal Palace in Budapest, with the coat-of-arms of Hungary and Budapest and the engraver mark "KNOPP ÉS STEINER BUDAPESTEN" (Knopp and Steiner, Budapest) below, 38 mm, bruised, edge nicks, contact marks, near very fine.

Footnote: Rudolf (August 21, 1858 - January 30, 1889), who was Archduke of Austria and Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, was the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian Empire from birth. In 1889, he died in a suicide pact with his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, at the Mayerling hunting lodge. The ensuing scandal made international headlines. He was named after the first Habsburg King of Germany, Rudolf I, who assumed the throne in 1273.