Nomos 12

NETHERLANDS, The Dutch Republic. Medal (Silver, 64mm, 85.81 g 12), on the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of Devolution of 1667-1668, by an unknown medalist, 1668. Personification of the United Netherlands standing facing, her head turned to right, holding lance with liberty-cap in her right hand and resting her left on shield bearing the Dutch lion; at her feet and around, weapons, fetters and banners; behind, trophy and view of the sea with a merchantman and a warship. Rev. ASSERTIS.LEGIBUS. / EMENDATIS.SACRIS. / ADIUTIS.DEFENSIS. / CONCILIATIS.REGIBUS. / VINDICATA. MARIUM.LIBER / TATE.PACE.EGREGIA.VIR / TUTE.ARMORUM.PARTA.STABILITAS.ORBIS.EUROPÆI / QUIETE. / NUMISMA.HOC. S.F.B.C.F. / CIƆ.IƆC.LXVIII (=after having affirmed the laws, reformed religion, succored, defended and reconciled the kings, maintained the liberty of the seas, gained a glorious Peace, thus assuring the tranquility of Europe, the council of the United Provinces made this medal in 1668; all within a circle formed bunches of Dutch arrows and shields bearing the arms of the Seven Provinces). PiN 276. Van Loon III, p. 22. Rare. A lovely, toned example. Good extremely fine.

From the collection of J.W. Adams, Künker 232, 17 June 2013, 316 and ex Künker 87, 24 September 2003, 2938.

The War of Devolution, in which the French sought to capture all of the Spanish Netherlands, was fought between the French and the Spanish; but the general fear that France was becoming too strong, and the Dutch preference for having a relatively weak buffer state between them and their hitherto traditional French ally, meant that England, Sweden and the Netherlands ranged themselves on the side of Spain. In fact, Louis XIV had been in contact with Johan de Witt with the suggestion that the territory be divided between France and the Netherlands, but the proposed share-out was so blatantly in France’s favor that no agreement could be reached. In the end, French conquests were rescinded to some extent but Louis never forgave the Dutch.