Nomos 5

Netherlands, Gouda. 1697. Medal (Silver, 74mm, 113.62 g 12), on the Peace of Rijswick, 1697, by Jan Drapentier. PAX ALMA GAVDIVM GOVDÆ (=happy peace, the joy of Gouda) William III, as Hercules, standing right on base, his left foot on the body of the fallen monster Discord, holding club in his right hand and using a torch held in his left to burn arms piled on an altar to right; on the base below William’s feet, J.Drapentier; above, arms of Gouda. Rev. PACI RYSVICIÆ (= to the Peace of Rijswick) Pax, below the rays of the sun and an angel flying left and blowing a trumpet, seated facing, and holding an olive branch and a lyre, on a high base inscribed MDCXCVII / COSS.S.Q. / GOVDANVS / DICARVNT / FEL.SECVLI (=1697, the burgomasters and council of Gouda consecrate this medal to public happiness) and flanked by, on the left, Pan and the personification of Gouda holding a cornucopiae, and, on the right, Poseidon (a personification of the river Gouwe) and Mercury; behind, on the left, view of the Palace of Rijswick and farmers and, on the right, ships at sea. Pax in Nummis 341. Van Loon IV, pp. 248-249 (but without the artist’s signature). Rare and attractive. Beautifully toned. Old scrape within the obverse edge at the bottom, otherwise, extremely fine.

Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 93.

This medal was struck to commemorate the Treaty of Rijswick, which ended the Nine Years’ War that had pitted France against the combined forces of England and Holland, the Empire, Spain, Savoy and various German princes. The fact that it dragged on as long as it did was due to the inability of either side to score any truly decisive victory.