medal
- Museum number
- G3,FD.386
- Description
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Silver medal. (whole)
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Fame and Victory, with wreath and naval trophy, supporting on either side a tablet, on which History, under the direction of Time, is inscribing the names of the ships lost by France; above, an infant genius holds palm and laurel branches; behind, a naval action, French ships sinking. (reverse)
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Bust of William III between two genii with palm branches, supporting the shields of England and Holland, and placed on an inscribed pedestal. This is within a circular temple dedicated. In the intercolumniations are four statues of RVSSEL, ASHBY, DELAVAL, and ALLEMONDE; and on brackets in front of the columns are four busts, beneath each of which are the fleurs-de-lis of France. (obverse)
- Production date
- 1692
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 44.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 2, published in 1885, states:
Rare.
The four persons recorded in the Temple of Fame are, Russell, commander-in-chief of the English; Almonde, commander-in-chief of the Dutch; Delaval, who commanded the Red squadron which burnt Le Soleil Royal and two other ships at Cherbourg; and Ashby, who commanded the Blue squadron. The four busts on the brackets may be those of De Tourville and other French Admirals. The edge is inscribed with a quotation from Virgil, which had been used by Louis XIV after the battle of July, 1690, and with which he was retorted very frequently upon this occasion. Luttrell (‘Brief Historical Relation of State Affairs’, Oxford, 1857) says that the gold medals which were given by the Queen to the officers engaged in the battle bore the same inscription as on the edge of this piece.
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, xiii. 4; 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], IV. 98.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Battle of La Hogue
- Acquisition date
- 1825
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- G3,FD.386
- C&M catalogue number
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MB2 (Medallic Illustrations 2) (67) (272)
