CNG 93, Lot: 1922. Estimate $1500. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GREAT BRITAIN. William III. 1694-1702. AR Medal (49mm, 56.41 g, 11h). Namur Retaken. By J. Luder. Struck 1695. GVLIELMVS · III · D · G · MAG · BRIT · FRAN · ET · HIBERNIÆ · REX ·, laureate, draped, and armored bust left / NAMURC · ARX · ET CASTR · EXPUGN · TEST · GALL · (the citadel and fortress of Namur stormed with the French as witness), soldier in Roman attire (the States of Europe) toppling an obelisk with his standard onto female figure wearing drapery adorned with lis (France); the obelisk is decorated with a club, thunderbolt, and scales, and LABENT/MONARCH/PRINCIPIUM/MOSA AC/SAMBRA/LIBERAT (the commencement of a weakening monarchy with the Meuse and Sambre set free) in six lines; below, the two river gods reclining facing one another; in background, the castle and town of Namur are depicted and labeled. MI 135/389; Eimer -; van Loon IV, p. 140. EF, toned, light mark on cheek. Very rare.

Ex Symkens Collection.

A pivotal and strategic fortress in the Spanish Netherlands, the Citadel of Namur had been held by the French who had captured it after the first siege in 1692. An alliance between England, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Dutch Republic resulted in a second siege of the city beginning in July of 1695. After nearly two months, the French forces within the stronghold had been reduced by over a half, and a surrender soon followed, likely serving as the most important event in the Nine Years’ War.