Nomos 13

Netherlands, The Dutch Republic. Medal (Silver, 54mm, 33.63 g 6), on the siege of Groningen and the capture of Coevorden, by MHS and/or PL, 1672(1673). View of the besieged city of Groningen with bombs soaring above and the besieging troops and their fortifications below; within the depiction of the besieging army, in tiny letters : MHL (to left); Wer / Hel (bottom left); Heer w: (left of center); M.4: (right of center); PL (bottom right); Oos w. (right); and Ga: (far right). Rev. GRON.IS.BELLE.DOOR.DE.BIS.VAN.CVEL.EN.MVNS.D.9.IVL.VER.D.17.AV 1672 (=Groningen was besieged by the Bishops of Cologne and Münster from the 9th of July to the 17th of August, 1672) Scene of the capture of Coevorden; below, Coevorden.met.Stormer - / hant ingenomen den / 20 december (=Coevorden taken by storm on the 20th December). TMNK 00829. Cf. Van Loon III, p. 104, 5. A very interesting and attractive medal, lightly toned and impressive. Extremely fine.

The elaborate labeling found on the obverse of this medal is highly reminiscent of maps printed at the time. The tiny letters often seem to be missed by cataloguers: as with both of the references here.