Beschreibung

Anne, 1702-1714. Satirical Silver Medal 1709, 29.09 g. Capture of Mons. By M. Brunner and G. Nuernberger. Gallia, holding chain of Mons who is crowned and seated on rock; holding shield up against Bellona who is throwing lightnings. NEC CASTRA NEC MVNIMENTA. In exergue: POSTSCENIVM AVTVMNI. Rv. Colossus of Rhodes falling apart. MOLE RVIT SVA. In exergue: MONTES HANN . GALLIA LAB . RECVPERATI . XXIII OCT . MDCCIX. Plain edge. 42.8 mm. Eimer -. MI ii 363/203. van Loon V, 149,3. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1709-21. Selten / Rare. Gutes vorzüglich / About Uncirculated. Feine Patina / Nicely toned.

Purchased from Dolphin Coins, London, April 1997, lot 32.

The siege of Mons took place between 19 September and 23 October 1709 during the War of the Spanish Succession. It saw a Franco-Spanish garrison in the fortified town of Mons, then in the Spanish Netherlands, besieged and captured by a force of the Duke of Marlborough's Grand Alliance army under the command of the Prince of Orange. Owing to high Allied and French losses at Malplaquet, the capture of Mons was the final significant engagement of the campaign of 1709.

The tragedy of the Autumn had been performed, the actors had retired to the Green Room, and returned to their true characters. France, no longer gay and vaunting, now quailed before the genius of Marlborough and Eugene, whose union and concord are represented by the fasces, and in vain attempted to protect herself behind the entrenchments at Malplaquet and the fortifications at Mons. The Colossus at Khodes was a statue of the Sun, which, like Louis XIV, who grasped at a larger empire than he could govern, fell to pieces through its own unwieldiness.