Description

William III. and Mary II. 1689-1694. Silver Medal 1692, 44.49 g. Battle of La Hougue. By P. H. Mueller, executed by F. Kleinert. Neptune, with uplifted trident, drives Louis XIV from his marine car, holding a trident tipped with fleurs-de-lis; distant naval action. NON ILLI IMPERIVM; SED NIHI SORTE DATVM. In exergue: GUILIELMO . III . M . BRIT . R . OB IMPERIUM MARIS ASSERT. Rv. Victory, with laurel wreath and palm, standing on an antique galley, on which two infant genii support the shields of England and Holland beneath a naval crown. Wrecks of ships are floating about, and the sun is setting. SE CONDET IN UNDAS. In exergue: DELETA AC INCENSA GALLORUM CLASSE . MDCXCII. Edge: CONCASTIGATVS GALLORVM FASTVS ET ASTVS FLVCTIBVS, ET PVGNA FRACTVS ATROCE FRAGOR. 49.6 mm. Eimer 347. MI ii 55/251. Forster 676. van Loon IV, 98,4. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1692-24. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned.

Purchased from Münzenhandlung Schulten, Cologne, April 1982, lot 1955.

The Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue in 1692 were significant naval engagements during the Nine Years' War (1688 - 1697), a conflict fought between the Grand Alliance (led by England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire) and France under King Louis XIV. These battles marked a decisive victory for the Anglo-Dutch fleet and effectively ended French naval dominance in the English Channel.

On the medal, William is considered the true Neptune, punishing Louis as an impostor, and announcing that to himself was the empire of the sea allotted. The legends are taken from Virgil, Aen. i. 140, 143.