Divo 006. 1643, 19 Mai, La Bataille de Rocroi.

Obv. Head of Louis XIV right. LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Victoria enthroned on a mass of arms and standards, holding wreath and palm branch VICTORIA PRIMIGENIA, in ex, AD RUPEM REGIAM DIE V IMPER MDCXLIII.

Skillfully holed, possibly soon after issue.

The Battle of Rocroi was of immense historical importance. A large, veteran Spanish army was defeated by a smaller French force, the first time the Spanish had suffered a significant defeat in over a century. The loss was almost unthinkable, and it was not only a great propaganda victory for the French, it signalled the end of over a century of Spanish military supremacy and ultimately, the decline and end of the Spanish empire itself.
While the Spanish were able to pursue the war with some success after Rocroi, the loss of much of their elite army, andthe vast expense drained the Spanish economy and they were unable to defeat the simultaneous Portuguese rebellion.