Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 69. Estimate CHF750.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE. Louis XIV . 1643–1715. Medal (Bronze, 55mm, 58 g 12), on the French capture of Maastricht in 1673. LVDOVICVS.XIIII.D.G.FR.ET.NAV.REX Draped bust of Louis XIV to right. Rev. QVAS.CONDIDIT.ERVIT.ARCES / 1673 Neptune destroying the walls of Troy. Van Loon III, p. 112, II. Nicely toned and attractive. A few minor edge bumps, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Hall Collection.

This medal commemorates the French capture of Maastricht, and refers to the fact that the French had originally helped the Dutch to capture it from the Spanish in 1632. The reverse shows Neptune destroying the walls of Troy, which he had earlier helped to build: the legend tells us, “he tears down the forts he built”.