medal
- Museum number
- BNK,EngM.160
- Description
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Lead medal. (whole)
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Castor and Pollux, on horseback, charging, right. (obverse)
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View of Oudenarde with the battle before the walls. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1708
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 43.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 2, published in 1885, states:
Rare.
Prince Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Marlborough are aptly typified by Castor and Pollux, who alike ran a career of glory, each rejoicing in the other's fame, mutually sharing and contributing to each other's honour, and maintaining an uninterrupted friendship. According to astrologers, stars in conjunction diffuse a propitious influence over the fortunes of their satellites. Marlborough had long expected Eugene to join him with strong reinforcements, but as German councils delayed the advance of the troops, Eugene hurried away alone and arrived at head-quarters only a day or two before the battle. As the timely appearance of Castor and Pollux at the battle of Lake Regillus brought success to the Romans, so the fortunate conjunction of Eugene and Marlborough was alike propitious to the Allies at Oudenarde. The legend on the reverse is a foolish vaunt. At the battle of Cassano, Eugene and Vendome met, but there was no flight or even retreat, and both parties sang their Te Deum. It was only after Vendome was called away to the Low Countries that the career of Eugene in Italy was marked with any great success; and at Oudenarde it was to Vendome alone that the merit was due of having saved a single battalion from destruction or capture. This medal was executed by Philipp Heinrich Müller, which may account for the complimentary allusions being directed to Eugene rather than to Marlborough.
See Rapin de Thoyras, Paul, 'The Metallick History of the Reigns of William III and Queen Mary, Queen Anne, and King George I. [N. Tindal’s edition.], London, 1747, vi. 2; Van Loon, Gerard, 'Histoire Métallique des XVII. Provinces des Pays-Bas', 5 vol. La Haye, 1732-1837 (fol) [There is also an edition in Dutch, but with different paging], V. 106; Thesaurus Numismatum Modernorum hujus Seculi, &c., Norinbergiæ, 794.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Battle of Oudenarde, 1708
- Acquisition date
- 1877
- Acquisition notes
- The Bank of England loaned their Collection to the British Museum in 1865 wishing to make it accessible to the general public. This remained as a separate Collection until 1877 when the Bank Directors decided it would be more useful to the museum and the public if incorporated into the national collection. The Bank of England collection was therefore presented to the British Museum in 1877, any duplicates being sold to create a coins and medals purchase fund.
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- BNK,EngM.160
- C&M catalogue number
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MB2 (Medallic Illustrations 2) (324) (150)