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Description: | Post medieval brass circular medal with a design on both sides and later piercing at 12 o'clock. The medal is 59.3mm in diameter by 4.0mm thick and weighs 65 grams, the piercing is 4.6mm in diameter. On one side are two standing male figures in Roman military dress including horse tail pumed helmets, facing three quarters towards each other with an three legged altar between; below is a spread eagle and in the background are countryside scenes probably showing ploughing and harvest. The legend reads DUBUS PRÆLATA TROPHÆTS. On the other side is a female figure in 17th century dress standing facing resting on a spear or standard, she is between two altars, one decorated by branches is topped by flame and one decorated with swords she is snuffing; in the background are ships at sea. The legend reads CONSERVAT UTRAMQUE, on the altars is writtern ANNO 1684 and below the exurgue is INDUCTIS XX AN PACTIS.Philip Attwood, Curator of Medals at the British Museum examined a photograph of the medal and said:"This is a Dutch medal commemorating the Treaty of Ratisbon of 1684, which agreed a 20-year truce between France and her enemies. The two figures on one side are France and Spain, who exchange an olive branch for the sword, with the legend 'Preferred to uncertain victories'. On the other side is Amsterdam between two altars representing Religion and Commerce and the words 'She conserves both'. Suspension holes appear often to have been later additions, made so that the medal could be worn or attached to an object, and this one is so intrusive that this must be the case here. It's difficult to tell from the image but it looks as though this may be a cast copy, whereas the medal was originally struck. Even if this is the case, it still looks as if it belongs to not long after the event commemorated."Worn patches and lack of detailing in some areas of the medal may suggest it was cast. It was cleaned only slightly by the finder and the lack of patina suggests it was a relatively recent loss.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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