Nomos 12

SWEDEN, n/a. Karl X Gustav, 1654–1660. Plaquettepenning, or Hollow medal (Silver, 65mm, 86.28 g 1), on the crossing by the Swedish army of the ice between Jutland to Funen and then on to Zealand during the Second Northern War, by Pieter van Abeele, Amsterdam, 1658. CAROLUS GUSTAV.DG.SVEC.GOTH.VANDALOR.Q.REX Armored and bare-headed bust of Karl X facing, turned slightly to the right; on the arm truncation, PVA. Rev. INVIA VIRTUTI NULLA EST VIA AN°1658 (=no route is impassible for the brave) Karl X on horseback to right; in the background, ROO-SCHIL over view of the city of Roskilde. Frederiks 10/10a. Hildebrand I, p. 351, 30. Van Loon II, pp. 424-425, ii. Attractively toned. Extremely fine.

Ex Künker 233, 17 June 2013, 2525.

Karl X, the successor of Queen Christina, involved Sweden in an almost incessant series of wars with her neighbors, especially with Poland-Lithuania and Denmark. The medal recalls one of the most memorable actions; it took place during the winter of 1658, which was so extremely cold that the Little and Great Belts separating Jutland from Zealand, the island on which Copenhagen is found, froze solid. This allowed the Swedish army, which in moving up from the north German coast had easily defeated the Danish forces arrayed before it, to cross over and threaten Copenhagen itself. This amazing action forced the Danes into a disadvantageous peace, and is the reason why the Dutch Abeele produced this medal in its honor. However, Karl X then continued his war, to everyone’s disapproval and by October 1658 the Dutch fleet acted to protect the Danes: thus it is more than likely that this medal can only have been produced from c. March to the end of the summer of 1658.