Description

George II. 1727-1760. Silver Medal 1758, 29.47 g. Louisburg taken. By T. Pingo. Globe, with areas of CANADA and AMERICA identified, decorated with the Union flag and a scroll with inscription: PARITER . IN . BELLA is flanked by a soldier and sailor; above Fame hovering; in foreground a female figure drops a lily into the sea. Rv. Shore-line batteries firing at a fleet. LOVISBOVRG . TAKEN . MDCCLVIII. Plain edge. 43.9 mm. Eimer 657. MI ii 685/404. Pingo 10. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned.

From the auction Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 1, Bern, April 1983, lot 860.

Louisburg was captured from the French on 26 July 1758. Generals Amherst and Wolfe commanded the land forces and Admiral Boscawen the fleet. The time chosen for the representation on this medal is when an attack was made upon the two remaining ships of the French squadron, which were in the harbour, one was towed away, the other, being aground, was necessarily destroyed. The perfect harmony which prevailed between the military and naval commanders is alluded to in the legend on the obverse. The siege of Louisbourg ended French colonial dominance in Atlantic Canada and led to the subsequent British campaign to capture Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of New France the following year.