Rev. Naval engagement ; in, front, Lonis XIV., as Neptune,
in a marine car, brandishing a trident ; on the car, the arms of
France and the monogram of I S. (Jan Smeltzing?) Leg.
MATvbate, fvgam ; i l l i impeeivm pelagi. (Speed your flight ;
to him belongs the empire of the sea .—comp. Virg. Aen. i. 141,
142.) E x . PUGNA, AD BEVES .A N G : BAT . Q . VNA FVG . D . X
iv l . 1690. (Action off Beachy Head, England and Holland
united, put to flight, 10, July, 1690.)
2-9. Van Loon, III. 450, Trésor, Méd. Franç. Pt. III.
PI. xxix. 3.
MB. 2Et. Hague, Æ . St. Petersburg, Æ . Gotha, Æ.
Bare.
This medal is not included in the French national series. It
may have been executed by Jan Smeltzing during his residence
in France. This artist had incurred so much blame at Leyden
by bis satirical medals of William that he was compelled to
leave Holland and to take refuge in France, where he appears
to have found employment at the Paris Mint, hut was not
actually engaged on the medallic series of Louis XIV. The
legend is adopted from Virgil’s description of Neptune rising
from the sea to drive away those who had dared to disturb his
ancient empire. This is retorted upon Louis after the battle
of La Hogue. (See Nos. 247-251, Vol. I I . pp. 58-55.)
123. A c t io n o f f B ea c h y H e a d . ^ j%p , 1690.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., hair long, in cravat, armour with
lion’s head on the shoulder, and mantle. Leg. lv d . magNv s .
FEANCOEVM . EEX . PIVS . FELIX . AVG . P . P .
Rev. Naval engagement. Leg. im p e e iv m m a e is a s s e e t v m .
(The empire of the sea asserted.) Ex. A n g . B at . q .
vna . d e v . ad B e v e s . d . x . iv l . mdclxxxx. (England and
Holland united, defeated off Beachy Head, 10 July, 1690.)
1*95. Van Loon, III. 450.
MB. iE. cast. Gotha, 2R. Extremely rare.
This medal is also not included in the French national
series.
1 2 4 . A c t io n o f f B ea c h y H e a d , &c . ” j™ye, 1 6 9 0 .
Bust of Louis XIV., r., laureate, hair long, in armour with
straps on the shoulder decorated with fleurs-de-lis, and mantle
fastened with brooch ornamented with Medusa’s head. Leg.
lv d o v i c v s . MAGNVS . EEX . CHBiSTiANiss. Below, e . (Henri
Boussel.)
Rev. Louis, turned from the spectator, seated, r., on his
throne, and holding a rudder, gives directions to Victory, who
departs bearing three arrows and a palm branch ; in the
background, a building. Leg. v i c t o b i a o b s e q v e n s . (Victory
obedient.) Ex.. h o s t i b v s t e e e a m a b iq . p e o f l i g a t i s a d f l o -
BIACVM AD STAFAEDAM AD LITTVS ANGLICVM . M.DC.LXXXX. (The
enemy defeated by land and sea, at Fleurus, at Staffard, off the
coast of England, 1 6 9 0 .) e o v s s e l . f .
2-8.
MB. Æ. Bibl. Paris, Æ. Very rare.
The reverse of this medal was designed by Sebastian Le
Clerc. In his original sketch Louis and Victory both held the
arrows, but Mons. de Pontchartrain directed the artist to make
the following alteration :—“ Que la main du Boy ne tienne pas
les trois flèches, mais de sa main droite sa Majesté commande
la Victoire de marchér,” and so to give to him “ une action de
maistre qui commande.”
1 2 5 . A c t i o n o f f B e a c h y H e a d , & c . 15-55^ , 1 6 9 0 .
Bust of Louis XIV., r . , hair long, no drapery. Leg. lu d o -
VICUS MAGNUS EEX CHEISTIANISSIMUS. Below, J . MAVGEE . F .
Rev. Louis, turned from the spectator, seated, r., on his
throne, &c.; similar to the preceding; building varied. Leg.
VICTOBIA OBSEQVENS. Ex. AD FLOEIACVM . AD STAF . AD LITTVS
ANGLICVM . M.DC.LXXXX.
1*6. Med. Louis XIV., 4to, 2 3 1 . Van Loon, IV. 1 5 .
MB. M.