GERMANY. Bayern. Kurfürstentum. Maximilian II Emanuel, 1679-1726. Medal 1704 (Silver, 43 mm, 29.46 g, 12 h), on his defeat and flight after the Battle of Blenheim. PUDORE TERRORE / HINC ET INDE / FUGATUS Maximilian II Emanuel fleeing to the right on pedestal with coat of arms of Ulm and Augsburg, holding shield in his left hand; behind, falling flags and standards; to his left, threatening Bavaria; to his right, river god Danubius threatening with his trident in both hands. Rev. MAX•EMA•D•B•REGENTIS DUCISSAE BAVARIÆ MARIT 9 ET IN / BELG•HISP•GALLICO GU - BER - NATOR E DUX GENERALISS. // ET HASSECVNDVS 7 ABSTVLIT / MDCCIV• Justitia standing facing, holding sword in her right hand and scales in her left; around, wreath of coats of arms of the lost cities. Bavarica 1000, 23h. Beierlein 1557. München Inv. 6-05103. Extremely rare and lightly toned. Some marks, otherwise, very fine.


This highly sought after medal combines the biting irony of political propaganda with numismatics in a particularly striking way. The inspiration for its obverse and reverse motifs comes from a medal by P. H. Müller (1654-1719), commemorating the victories of Maximilian II Emanuel in the War of the Spanish Succession up until 1703 (see Lot 1071 above). The following year, however, he suffered a crushing defeat at Blenheim, forcing him to flee Bavaria.

Instead of a loyal Ulma paying homage, this medal depicts an enraged Bavaria driving Maximilian II Emanuel away. Likewise, the once-submissive Danubius has been transformed into a menacing river god. The reverse no longer features the coats of arms of conquered cities but rather the names of lost ones: Amberg, Cham, Donauwörth, Filzhofen, Freystadt, Friedberg, Memmingen, Neuburg, Neumarkt, Passau, Rain, Regensburg, Rothenberg, Stadtamhof and Straubing.

And last but not least, Victoria has been replaced by Justitia, delivering judgment. The commissioner and engraver of this medal remain unknown, but it seems highly likely that the cities of Ulm and Augsburg - previously conquered by Maximilian II Emanuel - were behind this satirical piece.