Nomos 12

NETHERLANDS, The Dutch Republic. Utrecht. Medal (Silver, 49mm, 40.05 g 12), on the siege and capture of Grave by Maurice of Orange; by G. van Bylaer, 1602. (quatrefoil stops) ARS.GRAVE.TOLLIT.ONVS. / .ORDIN - TRAIEC. // ORDIN TRAIEC (=artifice lifts a heavy weight - by order of Utrecht) A man uses a lever to lift a millstone; below, crowned arms of Utrecht. Rev. (quatrefoil stops) INDVSTRIA.ET.LABORE. / M CIɔ Iɔ CII (=by industriousness and work, 1602) Wreathed spade before view of the city with its name, GRAEF, in the field above. Van Loon I, pp. 531-532. A very attractive, nicely toned example. Extremely fine.

From an American private collection, ex WAG 54, 19 September 2010, 2912, WAG 49, 9 February 2009, 1201, WAG 47, 28 June 2008, 2710, WAG 43, 24 September 2007, 2752, Peus 391, 27 May 2007, 1112 and WAG 26, 13 September 2004, 4400.

This is a medal that is thought to be very popular in Germany. Never-the-less it actually deserves to be since it is both very attractive and filled with symbolism. On the obverse we have a man lifting a heavy weight, a pun on the name of the city; the man can, probably, be identified with Maurice and the Dutch army. On the reverse, of course, we see the actual city.