Holy Roman Empire, Medal, Capture of Lille by Eugene of Savoy & Duke of
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Winged Victory standing on a shield bearing the arms of the city of Lille, taking the turreted crown from the head of the allegory of the city, fallen to the ground in a defeated position.
Minerva seated, her arm resting on a powder barrel, repels Mars, who is fallen to the ground and protecting himself with a shield bearing the arms of France, with her shield adorned with a Gorgon's head. Around Minerva, muskets, cannons, cannonballs and flags.
This medal is of great splendour, very pleasing to the eye for its detail and remarkable patina. It celebrates the capture of the city of Lille in 1708 by the troops of Joseph I, King of the Holy Roman Empire, led by Prince Eugène of Savoy-Carignan, General of the Empire, allied to the British troops of the Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill (1st Duke). This capture took place in the middle of the War of the Spanish Succession, which saw France and Spain fighting against the coalition of the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic, principally. This capture was one of France's major defeats against the coalition, which lost the best-protected fortress in Europe, and saw the capture of several cities in the north following the fall of Lille. However, France resisted the advance of the Allied troops, and the war lasted until 1714 with the signing of the Treaty of Rastatt between France, represented by the Duke of Villars, and Prince Eugène, representing the coalition.
INSVLA FLANDR• FALLIS A FOEDERATIS EREPTA• // INDEFESSA VIRTVTE IN / VICTISSIMI EVGENII / SAB• PRINCIPIS• / MDCCIIX•
SPES HOSTIVM PERTERRITORVM PRAECISA• // PRVDENTIA FORTISS• DVCIS / MARLENBVRG. OBSIDIONEM / INSVLANVM PROTE / GENTIS•
32.91 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.