296. Louis XIV. r e t u r n s to V e r s a il l e s . June, 1693.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., hair long, no drapery. Leg. lv d o -
VICVS MAGNVS REX.
Rev. Louis standing in a triumphal car, drawn by two
ladies of his court, preceded by a third carrying his standard,
i.e., an empty purse and the figure 0 : Versailles in the distance.
Leg. v e n it y id it , s e d n on v ic it . (He came, he saw,
but he did not conquer.) Ex. a b e l g : e x p e d it i : ir r it :
r e d : v e r sa l : m . iu n : MDCXoiii. (The return to Versailles
from the fruitless expedition to Holland, in the month of June,
1693.)
1-45. Van Loon, IV. 184.
MB. lead. Hague, iR. P. H. Van Gelder, iR.
Brussels, iR. Gotha, iR. Munich, lead. Copenhagen,
jR. Rare.
Executed by Jan Smeltzing. This satirical medal of the
French king was struck upon the same occasion as the preceding.
The cypher and the empty purse indicate the amount
of his success in this expedition and the- general state of his
finances.
297. Louis XIV. r e t u r n s to V e r s a il l e s . ^ June, 1693.
Bust of Louis XIV., I., laureate, hair long, in armour, with
lion’s head on the breast, straps decorated with fleurs-de-lis
on the shoulder, and mantle with fringe. Leg. lvd o v icv s .
magnvs . r e x . On mantle, d . (Jakob van Dishoecke ?) Same
as No. 290.
Rev. Louis XIV. represented as Phoebus in a marine cave,
attended by three nymphs : in the distance is the Sun setting
in the sea, and a naked figure leading away the horses. Leg.
s o l is . la v triclbv s . s e r v a t is . (The bathing women of the
Sun preserved.) Ex. m d c x c iii.
2. Van Loon, IV. 135.
Hague, pewter. Very rare.
This satirical medal was probably executed by Jakob van
Dishoecke. Louis is here represented under his favourite
emblem the Sun, who was fabled to repose himself during the
night in the caves of Thetis attended by sea-nymphs. It alludes
of course to the ladies of the court of France, and to their
supposed preservation through the king’s precipitate departure
from Namur.
298. S e a -f ig h t o f f G ib r a l t a r . ^ June, 1693.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., hair long, no drapery. Leg. l u d o -
VIOUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS. Below, J . MAVGER . F.
Rev. Victory, armed with thunder, stands facing, looking r.,
upon an antique boat, between the pillars of Hercules. Leg.
c om m er c ia h o s t ib u s in t e r c l u s a . (The commerce of the enemy
intenupted.) Ex. n a v ib u s capt . a u t in c e n s . ad f r e t u m
g a d itan . M.pc.xcm. (Vessels taken or burnt in the straits of
Gibraltar, 1698.)
1-6. Van Loon, IV. 136. Med. Louis XIV., 4to, 248.
Trésor, Méd. Franç. Pt. III. PI. xxxii. 3.
MB. Æ. Æ.
The obverses of the specimens in silver and copper are from
different dies. Sir George Rooke was convoying a large fleet
of merchant vessels through the straits of Gibraltar, when
he was attacked by a French fleet, under De Tourville, of
nearly four times his force. Enough of the French fleet was
kept together to hold Sir George engaged, while the greater
number was ordered to capture the merchantmen, of which,
however, few were taken, but a great number burnt. Sir
George, pressed by a portion of the French fleet for two days,
stood off and escaped to Madeira. The whole affair was very
injurious to England and Holland, though not otherwise profitable
to France.
299. S e a -f ig h t o f f G ib r a l t a r . j une> 1593.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., &c.; similar to the preceding, but
no artist’s name.
g 2