Frederick the Great, Frederick II or III, Mystery Explained.

[constanius]

 

This was how I described the medal in 2008........ "Frederick the Great medal 1757. Struck in England (hence the English inscription). The.Most.Heroic C.F.III K of Prussia (for Caesar.Frederick. Should be II not III the engravers mistake) The British were supporting Frederick with money to protect Hanover. Lovely die-break"......... though it has taken a while to find out the real reason for the apparent error, which I blamed on the engraver, the following will explain.

According to the book, the first king in Prussia was Frederick I, the second Frederick (William) II, the third Frederick III (the Great).

So in England, at least at that time 1757, he was known as Frederick III, but a few years later he was referred to as Frederick II as it became known that Frederick William(his father) was called Frederick William I, not Frederick II.

 

So a belated apologize to the engraver.