Spink
Auction 22007 18 Oct 2022
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Limerick Taken, AR Medal, 1691, by J. Smeltzing, GUIL : ET MARIA D • G • M • BRIT : FR : ET HIB : REX, ET REGINA •, conjoined busts right, William with laureate and armoured, rev. NON HAEC SINE NUMINE DIVUM, Fame advancing, sounding her trumpet and holding a wreath aloft; at her feet are captured arms. View of besieged town in distance, LIMR : CAPT : HIB : SUBACT : M : OCT : MDCXCI • in exergue in two lines, plain edge, 56mm, 71.51g (Eimer 339; MI ii 36/215; van Loon IV, 59; Harding 21 this medal), a handful of faint contact marks, otherwise with attractive blue toning to dark grey surfaces, lustrous, extremely fine and extremely rare, none traced in this metal on CoinArchives.
In the spring of 1691 Tyroconnel, James' military commander, returned to Ireland in an attempt to reorganise the Irish forces and re-ignite rebellion. Tyroconnel died shortly after landing in Ireland and St. Ruth, a French officer, took over command. He was swiftly opposed by Ginkell. At Athlone St. Ruth, relying too heavily on an extremely strong defensive position, failed to bring up reinforcements when needed and Ginkell took the city with only slight losses, for this victory Ginkell was created Earl of Athlone by William. At Aghrim St. Ruth again occupied a strong defensive position. This battle was very severe, about one in ten of Ginkell's men were killed or wounded whilst one in three of the Franco-Irish force lost their lives. St. Ruth was among the slain. Ginkell then proceeded to Galway, besieging the town in August. The garrison, despairing of help, surrendered quickly leaving only Limerick in the hands of James' forces. At Limerick a rapid assault was not contemplated because Ginkell did not want to run any risk of failure. In the event none was needed since the garrison, lacking the will to fight, surrendered in October.
Estimate: £1200 - £1500
In the spring of 1691 Tyroconnel, James' military commander, returned to Ireland in an attempt to reorganise the Irish forces and re-ignite rebellion. Tyroconnel died shortly after landing in Ireland and St. Ruth, a French officer, took over command. He was swiftly opposed by Ginkell. At Athlone St. Ruth, relying too heavily on an extremely strong defensive position, failed to bring up reinforcements when needed and Ginkell took the city with only slight losses, for this victory Ginkell was created Earl of Athlone by William. At Aghrim St. Ruth again occupied a strong defensive position. This battle was very severe, about one in ten of Ginkell's men were killed or wounded whilst one in three of the Franco-Irish force lost their lives. St. Ruth was among the slain. Ginkell then proceeded to Galway, besieging the town in August. The garrison, despairing of help, surrendered quickly leaving only Limerick in the hands of James' forces. At Limerick a rapid assault was not contemplated because Ginkell did not want to run any risk of failure. In the event none was needed since the garrison, lacking the will to fight, surrendered in October.
Estimate: £1200 - £1500