Serbia 28 Hungary 29 Poland 30 Central Africa 31

I think this is the "straightest" line from north to south that our meridian has ever accomplished. We begin today with the small nation of Serbia (28 on the map) then we move up to Hungary (29 on the map) then Poland (30 on the map) and finally we drop south to the Central African Republic that had a small stint in the  70's as a European style Empire. 

Serbia/Belgrade/Historical Museum (Periodic Display of 1crown)

Crown of Serbia 1901

With this piece, symbolism plays the main role. The crown was made in 1901 from bronze taken from a cannon used 100 years earlier in the Great Uprising. King Peter I was crowned on the anniversary to strengthen Serbian independence. Consisting mostly of enameled and gold plated bronze and set with a few stones, this crown has little intrinsic value but rather historic value. 

Hungary/Budapest/Parlaiment Buildings (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of St.Stephen

The Crown of St Stephen is considered to be one of the most holy of all the relic crowns of Europe. It is to this day believed in Hungary, and that if the crown was to either be destroyed or leave Hungarian soil, the country and its people would suffer total destruction. Also, no-one could claim sovereignty in Hungary without having total custody of the crown. For this reason the crown was vehemently pursued by Hitler during WW2 but it was so well hidden, that for years after the war its whereabouts were actually lost. This was considered to be the reason for the suffering, communism caused in those times. Controversy followed as reports of its whereabouts where eventually confirmed to be Fort Knox USA. It was eventually recovered and restored to the people of Hungary, where it is on display for them in the Parliament Building in Budapest, today. Ironically, or should we say, as providence would have it, the fall of communism and eventual economic growth has also returned to the beleaguered people of this ancient country.

Hungary/Budapest/National Museum (Permanent Display 3crowns)

Votive Crown of Nagyvarad

Crown of St Margaret

Crown of the Byzantine Emperor Monomachos

http://home.hu.inter.net/~jekely/crown.htm

Poland/Warsaw/National Museum (Permanent Display 1crowns, 1coronet)

Crown of Augustus III

Crown of Marie Josepha

Poland/Plock/Plock Cathedral (Permanent Display 4crowns, 2 circlets)

Crown of Boleslaw the Brave (replica)

This Crown was reconstructed between 2001 and 2003 from detailed original drawings of the medieval Crown of Boleslaw and using gold coins believed to be minted from the gold of the former crown. It is set with a mixture of synthetic and genuine gem stones.

http://www.replikiregaliowpl.com/galeria.php

Crown of Kazimierza Wielkiego

Crown of the Duke of Masovia also known as the Plock Diadem

The Sroda Crown

After being pawned by Charles Iv of Luxembourg to a Jew in Sroda in 1348, this crown was lost to history after the Plague visited the small town. It was rediscovered when an old building was demolished in 1885 revealing what has become known as the Sroda Treasure. 

Funerary Crown of Stefano Batorego

Funerary Crown of Zygmunta Starego

Central African Republic/Bangui/Location unknown (Not Displayed 1 Crown)

Crown of Emperor Bokassa 1976

Made from gold and precious stones, this crowned formed the central feature of the farce of a coronation that cost so much it bankrupted an entire nation. The crown has as its focal point a diamond set in the central front panel. What is ironic is that the stone is not of gem quality and intrinsically worthless. It was however sold to the emperor at an exorbitant price because the natural formation of the rough stone looked vaguely like Africa. 

http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RCA.htm

 (All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)