Watch List notes:

FRIESLAND: AR medal (28.66g), 1692 (1698), van Loon-IV 225.3/IV 225.2, 46mm silver medal for the Death of Balthasar Bekker by H. Mier, bust right with B.BEKKER S T D V D M - AMST, NAT METSLAV ERIS M D CXXXIV around // DIT IS / DIEN SCHRIFT DOORLEERDE BEKKER / DIEN HEIL. EN TOOVERY ONDEKKER / DIE. HOE GETRAPT. GETERGT NOCH STIL / ZICH ONDERWERPT. ZYNS HEEREN WIL / EEN MAN'. GESONT. IN LEER. EN LEVEN / HOE MEER VERDRUKT. HOE MEER / VERHEVEN / 1692, probably an aftercast, uneven toning, plain edge, VF-EF, R. Balthasar Bekker (1634–1698) was a Dutch preacher and theologian, a fighter against superstition (this piece being known as an Anti-Superstition Medal), and one of the forerunners of the Enlightenment. In 1691 he wrote his opus magnum The Enchanted World. In it he vigorously opposed the 'Summis desiderantes affectibus', a papal edict approving severe measures against persons accused of magic and witchcraft. Bekker spoke out against the existence of witches and ghosts and against the idea of being possessed by the devil. He also questioned the existence of the devil himself. The book caused a lot of commotion in the Republic. 4,000 copies were sold in two months. His views brought him into conflict with the ecclesiastical authorities. In 1692 he was deposed as a preacher. He kept his salary, probably because he enjoyed the patronage of the Amsterdam mayors Nicolaes Witsen and Johannes Hudde. His book The Enchanted World gave rise to the abolition of the witch-hunts. Bekker also contributed to the fact that the inhabitants of the madhouses were not regarded as possessed, but as sick.

Estimate: 90-120 USD