accompaniments of the Lion of Nassau, which is, therefore, in
the legend said to have returned to its native heavens. As
William considered himself the great preserver of the balance
of power in Europe against the encroachments of France, he
naturally calls upon Britain and Holland to be watchful now
that he has been removed.
548. D e a t h o f W il l ia m III. ^ March, 1702.
Bust of William III., r., laureate, hair long, no drapery.
Leg. GULIELM ; I I I D . G . M . BEIT : FB : ET HIB : BEX F . D .
p . a . Below, i. s. (Jan Smeltzing.) Same as Nos. 67, 205
207, 254, 263, 398, 430, 435.
Rev. William, habited as a Roman Emperor, mounted upon
an eagle, flying I. Leg. c o n s e c ea t io g u il ie l m i . max. (The consecration
of William, the Greatest.) Ex. o ib ’ b o n is f l e b il i s
o c c id it XIV KAL APELL 1702. (By all good men he died lamented,
19 March, 1702.)
1-5. Rapin, xxii. 6. Yan Loon, IY. 339. Thes. Num.
159.
MB. At. Hague, 2E. Very rare.
The reverse of this piece was executed by Nicolas Chevalier,
who made use of Jan Smeltzing’s dies for the obverses of his
medals. (See No. 425, p. 156.)
Upon the death of a Roman Emperor, after his body had
been burnt, a waxen image was prepared, and, after various
ceremonies, was at the end of seven days burnt upon a pile,
from the top of which an eagle was let loose to convey the
spirit of the incipient deity to heaven. The memorial coins of a
Roman Emperor generally represent him, as upon this medal,
mounted upon an eagle, with the legend c o n s e c e a t io .
549. D e a t h o f W il l ia m III. March, 1702.
Bust of William III., r., laureate, hair long, in armour, with
lion’s head in front and straps on the shoulder, and mantle with
fringe round the breast. Leg. w il h e lm v s . h i . d . g . mag .
b e it . f e a n c . e t . h ib . EEX. Below, i. BOSKAM . f . Same as
Nos. 288, 322, 336, 383, 385, 386, 390, 391, 441, 443, 445.
Rev. An eagle flying to the top of a high mountain : sun
setting. Leg. n o n n i s i so l e occidvo e e v o l a t . (It flies back
only at sunset.) Ex. m o e it v b . anno m .d c c .i i x ix . m a b t h . (He
dies, 19 March, 1702.) i. boskam . f .
2'35. Rapin, xxii. 8. Van Loon, IY. 339. Thes. Num.
154.M
B. At. Hague, At. P. H. Van Gelder, At.
Brussels, At. Gotha, At. St. Petersburg, At. Rare.
When the sun sets and its day’s work is done, the eagle
returns to its native mountains. The sun, the emblem of
France, is setting : William, having counteracted the designs
of Louis XIY. by the late war, and arranged a confederacy to
resist his further attempts at encroachment, may be said to
have accomplished his appointed task, and, therefore, entitled
to retire to his native mansions.
550. D e a t h o f W il l ia m III. March, 1702.
Bust of William III., r., laureate, hair long, in armour with
lion’s head on the breast and straps on the shoulders, and
mantle fastened with brooch on the shoulder. Leg. g u l ie lm :
h i . t e i s t i d o l e n d e s in ffivo. (William III. lamented by an
unhappy age.) Below, m : sm e l t z in g .
Rev. The Temple of Janus with open doors ; inside is a burning
funeral pile ; on the right are erected two military standards,
each held by two united hands. Above is an eagle flying forth.
Ex. INVICTA VIBTUTE EESUEGET . NAT . HAGAE COMITIS D . XIV .
NOV . 1650 . DENAT . KENGSINGTON D . XIX . MAETII . 1702. (He
will rise again with unsubdued courage. Born at the Hague,
14 Nov. 1650 ; died at Kensington, 19 March, 1702.) m : s : E :
(Martin Smeltzing fecit.)
1‘9. Rapin, xxii. 7. Yan Loon, IV. 339. Thes. Num.
156.