Heritage World Coin Auctions
Signature Sale 3029 14-16 January 2014
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Great Britain
Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection of World Coins. William III silver Medal 1693, by Jan Boskam, 59.5mm, Battle of Landen, MS63 NGC. An especially fine example of this very rare, splendidly detailed, and symbolic victory medal depicting King William in armor facing right, in high relief The reverse features a falcon dropping in mid air upon a heron, with the battle scene beyond (including a village on the left and another on the right), and the date in the exergue. Beautiful silvery gold toning enriches the eye-appeal of this fabulously detailed, curious medal. During the Nine Years' War (also called the War of the Grand Alliance) in Flemish Brabant, on July 29, 1693, the French army of Marshal Luxembourg (some 80,000 strong) attacked the "allied" English army (some 50,000 strong) led by William himself. The English retreated, and both king and army escaped. Although it was French victory, thousands of soldiers from each army died while little was settled. Despite the waste of life and his defeat, William III issued a "victory" medal in which he is depicted as a Roman emperor in full attire, and symbolically the fierce "English falcon" trounces the more docile "French heron." However, the artist clearly shows the heron's long beak pricking the falcon in its soft underbelly. No one could wish for a more dramatic, sharply detailed portrait of King William, nor a more ironic metallic memento. A splendid piece indeed!
Estimate: 1250-1750 USD
Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection of World Coins. William III silver Medal 1693, by Jan Boskam, 59.5mm, Battle of Landen, MS63 NGC. An especially fine example of this very rare, splendidly detailed, and symbolic victory medal depicting King William in armor facing right, in high relief The reverse features a falcon dropping in mid air upon a heron, with the battle scene beyond (including a village on the left and another on the right), and the date in the exergue. Beautiful silvery gold toning enriches the eye-appeal of this fabulously detailed, curious medal. During the Nine Years' War (also called the War of the Grand Alliance) in Flemish Brabant, on July 29, 1693, the French army of Marshal Luxembourg (some 80,000 strong) attacked the "allied" English army (some 50,000 strong) led by William himself. The English retreated, and both king and army escaped. Although it was French victory, thousands of soldiers from each army died while little was settled. Despite the waste of life and his defeat, William III issued a "victory" medal in which he is depicted as a Roman emperor in full attire, and symbolically the fierce "English falcon" trounces the more docile "French heron." However, the artist clearly shows the heron's long beak pricking the falcon in its soft underbelly. No one could wish for a more dramatic, sharply detailed portrait of King William, nor a more ironic metallic memento. A splendid piece indeed!
Estimate: 1250-1750 USD