Watch List notes:

European Medals from 1513 to 1788

Netherlands, The Dutch Republic. Medal (Silver, 48mm, 41.33 g 12), on the murder of the De Witt brothers, 1672. ILLVSTRISSIMI. FRATRES.IOHAN:ET. CORNEL:DE.WIT Jugate busts of the De Witt brothers to right. On the edge: (rosette) VIOLENTA MORTE DELETI. HAGÆ. COMITIS. 20 AVG: A'O . 1672 (=violently done to death in the Hague, 20 August 1672). Rev. Within a wreath, inscription of eight lines: Twee Witten, eensgezint, / Gevloeckt, ghehaet, gemint- / Ten spiegel van de Grooten - / Verheven en verstooten, / In alles Lotgemeen, / Staen naer hun doot bijeen / Ghelijck zij hier nae't leven / Zoo konstig zijn gedreven. (=The two de Witts are shown here as they were: they were equally cursed, hated, loved, raised up, and hurled down, and they served as an example to the high and mighty. Animated with the same spirit, they suffered the same fate). TMNK 09275. Van Loon III, pp. 81-84, iii. A lovely toned example. Some minor edge faults, otherwise, extremely fine.