Description

William III. and Mary II. 1689-1694. Silver Medal 1689, 46.84 g. Flight of James II. By J. Schmeltzing. Bust, hair confined in a bag, draped. IACOBUS II BRITAN : REX FUGITIV. Rv. A column shattered by lightning; view of London from the south bank of the Thames. NON ICTV HVMANO, SED FLATV DIVINO. In exergue: SPONTE FUGIT IACOB : II ANG : REX L. 20 DEC : CAPTUS 23 D. 1688. ITERUM FUGIT 2 IAN : 1689. SN. Plain edge. 49 mm. Eimer 302. MI i 649/3. van Loon III, 370. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1688-43. Selten / Rare. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned. Winzige Kratzer im Revers / Tiny scratches on reverse.

From the auction Spink Taisei Numismatics 33, Zurich, April 1990, lot 789.

On 30 June 1688, a group of seven Protestant nobles invited William, Prince of Orange, to come to England with an army. By September, it had become clear that William sought to invade. Believing that his own army would be adequate, James refused the assistance of his cousin King Louis XIV of France, fearing that the English would oppose French intervention. When William arrived on 5 November 1688, many Protestant officers defected and joined William, as did James's own daughter Anne. James lost his nerve and declined to attack the invading army, despite his army's numerical superiority. On 11 December, James tried to flee to France, first throwing the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames. He was captured in Kent; later, he was released and placed under Dutch protective guard. Having no desire to make James a martyr, William let him escape on 23 December. James was received by his ally, Louis XIV, who offered him a palace and a pension.

This medal was struck in Holland.