Watch List notes:

European Medals from 1513 to 1788

Holy Roman Empire. Joseph I, 1705-1711. Medal (Silver, 45mm, 29.51 g 12), on the capture of Lille by the allies, 23 October / 9 December 1708, by either M. Brunner or C. T. Lauffer, Nuremberg, 1708. GALLIA MOERENS OB LILIVM DEPERDITVM* (=France mourns for her lost lily [Lille]) Gallia, seated three-quarter facing on throne to left, her right hand pointing at a lis, fallen on the ground from a shield hanging from a branch before her; in exergue, INSVLA FLANDR.CVM / CASTELLO RESTI / TVTA. (=the island of Flanders and the citadelle restored). On the edge, TEMPVS VLTIONIS EST A DOMINO.VICISSITVDINEM IPSE TRIBVET EI IEREM.LI.6.* (=For it is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He will render to her a recompense.) Rev. FOEDERATIS ADITVS IN GALLIAM APERTVS (=the entrance to France open to the Allies) View of the city of Lille and the surrounding fields; in exergue, VRBE REDDITA D.23.OCT. / CASTELLO D.9 DEC. / MDCCVIII. (=the city rendered on 23 October, the citadel on 9 December). EiN 128. Julius 706. MI, II, p. 340, 171. Van Loon V, pp. 119-121, iii. Very rare. Beautifully toned and very attractive. Good extremely fine.

Ex Peus 364, 27 April 2000, 2931.
The siege and capture of Lille from the French, by the allied forces under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, was a major victory in the War of the Spanish Succession: it resulted in the French loss of all of Northern Flanders.