1 William III. and Mary II. 1689-1694
William III. and Mary II. 1689-1694. Silver Medal 1692, 37.95 g. Battle of La Hougue. By G. Hautsch. Bust of William III. between two genii with palm branches, supporting the shields of England and Holland, and placed on a pedestal inscribed WILH . III . ANGL . REX. This is within a circular temple dedicated MEMORIÆ ÆTERNÆ. In the intercolumniations are four statues of RVSSEL, ASHBY, DELAVAL, and ALLEMONDE; and on brackets in front of the columns are four busts, beneath each of which are the fleurs-de-lis of France. Rv. Fame and Victory, with wreath and naval trophy, supporting on either side a tablet, on which History, under the direction of Time, is inscribing the names of the ships lost by France; above, an infant genius holds palm and laurel branches; behind, a naval action, French ships sinking. The inscription on the tablet is VOTA ORBIS . CLASS . GALL . AB . ANG . ET HOLL . DELET . D . 29 . 31 . MAI . 1692. LE SOLEIL ROYAL . LE DAVFIN ROYAL . LE TRIOPHANT . L'ORGVEILLEVX . LE VICTORIEUX . LE VAINQVEVR . LE TERRIBLE . L'ILLVSTRE . LE FVRI X . LE FIER . LE MONA LE SOVV LE. Edge: MATVRATE FVGAM, REGIQVE OSTENDITE VESTRO, NON ILLI IMPERIVM PELAGI. 45.4 mm. Eimer -. MI ii 67/272. van Loon IV, 98,4. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1692-25. Gutes vorzüglich / About Uncirculated. Feine Patina / Nicely toned. Winziger Randfehler / Tiny edge nick.
From the auction Schweizerischer Bankverein 38, Basel, September 1995, lot 2548.
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.
The four persons recorded in the Temple of Fame are, Russell, commander-in-chief of the English, Almonde, commander-in-chief of the Dutch, Delaval, who commanded the Red squadron which burnt Le Soleil Royal and two other ships at Cherbourg and Ashby, who commanded the Blue squadron. The four busts on the brackets may be those of De Tourville and other French Admirals. The edge is inscribed with a quotation from Virgil, which had been used by Louis XIV. after the battle of July, 1690, and with which he was retorted very frequently upon this occasion.