Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 95. Estimate CHF1800.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF3200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

France / Holy Roman Empire. Joseph I. 1705-1711. Medal (Silver, 49mm, 37.49 g 12), on the capture of Lille by Prince Eugene. Unsigned but by C. G. Laufer, 1708. SISTE SOL IN GIBEON ET VNA IN VALLE AIALON (=Sun stand still over Gibeon, Moon stand still over the valley of Aijalon Joshua 10:12 Sun and Moon in the sky over scene of the bombardment of Lille; in exergue, CASTELLVM RYSELL OBSESS: / SVM XXVII OCT.RECEPTVM / VERO IX DEC. (=the citadel of Lille besieged on the 27th of October, taken on the 9th of December) Rev. CONFVNDAMVS LINGVAM EORVM VT NON AVDIAT VNVSQVISQVE VOCEM PROXIMI SVI. (=confounding their languages, each finally could not understand the other) Scene of the building of the Tower of Babel, with all the workers falling into chaos; in exergue, RYSSEL VEL INSVLAE PER / PRINCIPEM EVGENIVM OB- / SESSA 22.AVG.ET 23. / OCT.RECEPTA / 1708. (=Ryssel or Lille, besieged by Prince Eugene on the 22nd of August, taken on the 23rd of October 1708). Eugen in Nummis 131. Horsky 7612. Julius 702. Van Loon V, pp. 121-122, iv. A lovely, beautifully preserved and toned example. Good extremely fine.

After the destruction of the French army at Oudenarde, the siege of Lille could begin, with Prince Eugene responsible for the lines and Marlborough protecting them against a French relief force. The French defenders managed to hold on, despite enormous casualties, until winter was so near that further campaigns against France would be held in abeyance. Nevertheless, the French position in Flanders was in ruins.