Nomos 12

LOW COUNTRIES, Spanish Netherlands. Mary of Hungary, governor of the Netherlands, 1531-1555. Plaquettepenning (?) (Silver, 58mm, 46.46 g 12), cast; undated and ascribed to 1555, but surely made in the mid 17th century. MARIA REGINA HUNG BOH Z LVDOV VXOR PHIL REG HISP FIL Bust of Mary to right, wearing elaborate headdress and with rather sober drapery. Rev. HIS DEVS OCIA RECIT Ship with furled sails on calm seas to left; above, sun. Van Loon I, p. 5. Toned and with a ‘flattering’ portrait of Mary. A somewhat rough cast, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Ex Sincona 11, 27 May 2013, 2115.

Mary of Hungary was the daughter of Philip the Fair and Joanna of Castile; she was born in Brussels in 1505. In 1515 she was married to the slightly younger Louis II of Hungary: the marriage, finally consummated in 1522, was a happy one. It was a short one, however, since Louis was killed, along with the entire Hungarian army, at Mohács in 1526. She remained as regent in Hungary for over a year before she went into retirement until 1531 when her brother Charles V convinced her to become regent of the Netherlands. While often subject to doubts and uncertainties, Mary proved to be good and relatively tolerant ruler of the Netherlands and this medallion was ostensibly produced in her honor at her retirement in 1555 (the word ocia in the reverse legend must be an engraver’s mistake for otia, rest). In any case, it seems likely, given the way that this medal was made, that this piece was produced in the 17th century as a commemorative recalling her period of relatively enlightened rule (especially as compared to that of her nephew, Philip II).