LOW COUNTRIES. Amsterdam. City. Medal 1650 (Silver, 69 mm, 85.73 g, 12 h), on the lifting of the siege of the city and the death of William II, Prince of Orange. By S. Dadler. CRIMINE AB UNO DISCE OMNEIS• MDCL• XXX IUL II• Horse jumping to left over view of the city with clouds above and sunrise to right; saddle cloth inscribed U / NI / O - RE / LI / GIO // SIMULANT; in exergue, QUIA BELLA VETABAT; above, crowned coat of arms.
Rev. MAGNIS EXCIDIT AUSIS• MDCL• VI NOVEMBRIS• City view of Den Haag, with a funeral procession moving out of the town; above, Phaethon, struck by a lightning from Zeus appearing in the clouds above, falls from Helios' solar chariot. Maué 76. Van Loon II, p. 353. Wiecek 133. A spectacular and very rare piece with a most enchanting iridescent tone. Tiny edge faults
, otherwise, virtually as struck.
From the collection of Dr. J. P. van Erp, Corinphila 247, 2 October 2020, 4895, previously acquired from J. Schulman (with old collector's and dealer's tickets).
With the confirmation of the sovereignty of the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden (Dutch Republic) through the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the country began its rise to one of Europe's leading maritime and trading powers, gaining global significance. At the heart of this economic power was the Amsterdam patricianship. Their strong position led to intense conflicts with the Stadtholders, which found support among the nobility and rural populations. The peak of these tensions came with the siege of Amsterdam by Stadtholder William II, Prince of Orange (1626-1650).
This wonderful medal commemorates the lifting of the siege on 4 August 1650 and the subsequent death of William II from pox on 6 November of the same year.
