Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 76. Estimate CHF5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

France. Louis XIV . 1643–1715. Medal (Silver, 72mm, 116.27 g 12), on the Peace of Nijmegen between France and Austria, undated but 1679. LVDOV:XIIII.FR.ET:NAV:REX. Laureate and draped bust of Louis XIV to right. Rev. SVB.CLYPEO.FERRO.ET.AVRO. / PACEM PRVDENTIA CVDENS (=Prudence, aided by a shield, iron and gold, forges Peace) Prudentia, holding a scepter in her right hand, standing left and placing a palm branch on a low altar with her left; behind, piles of armaments; above, an oval shield bearing a sword in saltire with a cornucopiae from which pour fruits and coins. Pax in Nummis 303. van Loon III, 250. Very rare. Beautifully toned. Sharply struck with an elegant bust of Louis XIV in very high relief. Some tiny marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.

An exceptionally fine and large medal that celebrates the treaty France signed with Austria to gain possession of Franche-Comté and Lorraine. It is unusual that a medal of this magnificence was not signed by its engraver.