Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 82. Estimate CHF2500.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

England. James II. 1685-1688. Medal (Silver, 60mm, 93.22 g 12), on the execution of the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Argyll, by Regnier Arondeaux, 1685. IACOBVS II D:G.MAG.BRI.FRAN.ET.HIB.REX. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of James II facing, head to left, resting on four scepters and balanced on an altar inscribed 16 -85; on the front of the base, crowned arms within Order of the Garter; below Order and in the background, R.A.- FEC.; on scroll below, ARAS ET SCEPTRA TUEMUR (=we defend our altars and our scepters); in the background, sea with ships and Neptune in his car. Rev. Justice, with her head to right, standing facing on base inscribed AMBITIO / MALESUADA / RUIT (criminal ambition regrets), holding sword in her right hand and balance in her left; at her feet, the decapitated bodies of Monmouth and Argyle; behind each is a pedestal bearing his head and titles - IACOBUS / DE / MONT/MOUT and ARGHI / BALD \ D’AR / GYL; behind, sun in rays above, on the left, stormy skies from which thunderbolts crash, striking Monmouth’s fleeing soldiers, to right, clear skies above city walls. Medallic Illustrations I, 615, 27. Van Loon III, 307-309. Attractively toned. Some minor marks, extremely fine.

Ex Spink NCirc CVI/6, July/1998, 5397.

This medal commemorates the crushing of the badly led rebellions of the Earl of Argyll and the Duke of Monmouth, which both occurred early in James’ reign. The medallist responsible for this piece, Regnier Arondeaux, was actually from Holland, but he came from a family of Huguenot refugess who were originally from the Southern Netherlands. Most of his medals were made in Holland, save for those produced during a prolonged stay in Britain.