Louis XIV Medallic History
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1667.Louis XIV. Vue de Louvre Obv. Draped and cuirassed bust right LVDOVICO XIV REGNANTE ET AEDIFICANTE.
Rev. Eastern wing of the Louvre MAIESTATI AC AETERNIT GALL IMPERII SACRVM
AR Medal, 34mm. 13.11g.
Unlike Maugers medallic series in which medals were, for the most part, struck long after the events they commemorated, this medal comes from the 'series' of medals struck by the celebrated engraver and artist Jean Warin in 1667. LordBest
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1672, Prise de douze villes en HollandeObv. Draped and cuirassed bust right LVD MAG FRA ET NAV REX PP, CHERON on bust truncation.
Rev. The King in the guise of Sol, radiating light, seated right in a heavenly chariot pulled by three horses, surrounded by clouds. Around are aerlia views of twelve towns and forts captured in Holland SOLIS QVE LABORES on scroll above central design, the names of all twelve towns/forts around.
AE63. Engraved by Charles Jean Francois Cheron. ORIGINAL STRIKE, very rare.
Charles Jean Francois Cheron (1635-1698), one of the most distinguished artists of the school of Jean Warin, was born at Nancy and was trained by his father, Jean-Charles Cheron, engraver to Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. Cheron went to Rome and became engraver of medals for Clement IX and Innocent X. Cheron's style in his Roman medals is of remarkable boldness, and his medals of Pope Clement IX and of Bernini are grandiloquent and among the finest Italian medals of the period. He returned to France in 1675 and was employed by Louis XIV at the Medal Mint at Paris for about twelve years, where he contributed several medals to the medallic series of the monarch, the Histoire Metallique. His medals are considered to be in an international baroque style.
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Cardinal Mazarin, Treaty of the Pyrenees, 1660. Obv. Bust of Cardinal Mazarin in his cardinals robes. IVLIVS CARDINALIS MAZARINVS
Rev. Radiant sun over landscape HINC ORDO HINC COPIA RERVM 1660
AE54. Original strike. Unsigned, but engraved by Warin.
Allegedly commemorates the Treaty of the Pyrenees signed in 1659.
Jules Cardinal Mazarin, (1602-1661), was the first minister of France after Cardinal Richelieu's death in 1642. During the early years of King Louis XIV, he completed Richelieu's work of establishing France's supremacy among the European powers and crippling the opposition to the power of the monarchy at home.LordBest
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Divo 001. 1638, La naissance de Louis XIV.Obv. Bust of Louis XIII right. LUDOVICUS XIII FR ET NAV REX
Rev. Angel delivering child to seated crowned figure COELI MUNUS LUDOVICUS DELPHINUS V SEPT MDCXXXVIII
Divo 1.LordBest
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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.LordBest
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Divo 007. 1643, Prise de de Thionville.Obv. Bust right. LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Allegorical figure standing left, holding Victory and Nike, map of fortifications to left PRIMA FINIUM PROPAGATIO THEODONIS VILLA EXPUGNATA MDCXLIIILordBest
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Divo 014. 1644, Prise de Rosas.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Rose rising from central ships prow, clouds flanking RHODA CATALON CAPTA MDCXLV
This medal was struck to commemorate the capture of the city of Rosas in Catalonia in 1645.LordBest
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Divo 065. 1662, La Chambre de Justice.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Justice seated right holding sword and scales REPETUNDARUM JUDICES CONSTITUTI MDCLXIILordBest
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Divo 088. 1666, Establissement de l'Academie des Sciences.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Allergorical figure seated left, holding sceptre and resting arm on shield amidst various objects. NATURAE INVESTIGANDAE ET PERFIC ARTLE REGIA SCIENTIARUM ACADEMIA INST MDCLXVILordBest
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Divo 101. 1667, Le Canal des deux mersObv. Bust right LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Neptune parting land with trident MARIA JUNCTA FOSSA A GAR AD PORT SETIUM MDCLXVII
Commemorates the "Canal des deux mers", a canal linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean ciathe city of Cette (Sete).
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Divo 119. Le Roi protecteur de l'Acadamie FrancaiseObv. Bust of Louis XIV LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Apollo standing facing, head left, leaning on column topped with lyre, principle facade of the Louvre behind APOLLO PALATINUS ACADEMIA GALLICA INTRA REGIUM EXCEPTA MDCLXXII
Divo 119. Unfortunate fingerprint (not mine) on bust, but beautiful reverse featuring the Louvre. Commemorates the Royal 'protection' given to the newly founded Acadamie Francaise.
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Divo 123. 1672, Le passage du Rhin pres de Schenk.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Louis XIV in guise of Roman emperor advancing, head left, right arm extended holding baton, left arm flung back towards a flying Victory who clasps a palm branch and crowns Louis with a wreath, below the personficiation of the Rheine in figure of despair, resting on urn from which water flows TRANATUS RHENUS HOSTE RIPAM ADVERSAM OBTINENTE MDCLXXII
Commemorates the crossing of the Rhein by French forcesLordBest
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Divo 157. 1676, Levee du siege de Maastricht.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Pallas standing holding spear and shield with three Fleur de Lys PULSIS AD MOSAM BATAVIS TRAIECT LIBERAT MDCLXXVI
Commemorates the lifting of the Siege of Maastricht. Curiously. the medal is dated 1676 while the siege ended in 1673. Maastricht was given back to the Dutch in the Treaty of Nijmegan in 1678-9. This siege is where the historical figure of Comte d'Artagnan, the inspiration for Alexandre Dumas' character, was killed.LordBest
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Divo 168. 1677, Prise de Saint-Ghislain.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Pallas standing right holding spear and wreath, shield at feet ANNUS FELICITER CLAUSUS FANUM S. GISLENI CAPTUM MDCLXXVI
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Divo 176. 1678, Combat de Saint-Denis.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Mars advancing left holding branch and trophy mounted on spear MARS PACIS VINDEX PUGNA AD FANUM DVONESII XIII AVG MDCLXXVIIILordBest
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Divo 180. 1680, Marriage du Dauphin avec Marie-Anne de Baviere.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. The Cardinal of Bouillon centre, marrying the Dauphin Louis left and Anne Marie of Bavaria right, temple behind VICTORIA ET PACE AUSPICES MARIE ANNA BAVAR?? LUD DELPH NUPTA? MDCLXXX
Commemorates the mariage of the Dauphin Louis to Anna Marie of Bavaria in 1680.LordBest
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Divo 199. 1683, 800 gens d'elite enroles pour la marine de guerre.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. King flanked by two figures, one kneeling, nautical scene with ship behind LECTI JUVENES INNAVALEM MILLITIAM CONSCRIPTI DCCC MDCLXXXIIILordBest
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Divo 222. 1688, Prise de Phillipsbourg.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Victory standing on urn from which water flows, holding arrow, fortified city behind PROVIDENTER PHILLIPIBURGUM EXFUG MDCLXXXVIII
Commemorates the capture of the German city of Phillipsbourg by French forces.LordBest
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Divo 237. 1691, Nice et Mons prises le meme jour.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Two airborne Victories facing each other, bearing trumpets and wreaths, from each trumpet a banner bearing NICEA CAPTA and MONTES HANN EXPVG, a city below each angel AB AUSTRO ET AB AQUILONE INEVNTE APRILI MDCLXXXXI
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Divo 256. 1694, Prise de Gerona.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Hercules leaning on pillar, prone figure at his feet GERUNDA CAPTA MDCXCIIIILordBest
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Divo 266. 1697, Prise d'Ath.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Mars approaching prone figure resting on urn from which water pours, each clasping the same banner TENERA GALLIS PATENS ATRA CAPTA MDCXCVIILordBest
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Divo 271. 1697, Les conqueres du Roi entre 1643 et 1697 Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Mound of cannon and other paraphernalia of war, crown above VICTORI PERPETVO OB EXPUG CCCL URB AD AN MDCXLIII AB AN MDCXCVII
Divo 271. Commemorates the "perpetual victories" of France under Louis XIV, 1643 to 1697. It is worth noting that in 1701, four years after this medal is dated, the War of Spanish succession broke out which was ultimately a defeat for France and weakened the nations influence considerably. France's iron grip on continental Europe was broken and the concept of 'balance of power' was developed during the Treaty of Utrecht which ended the war in 1713 though some small hostilities continued.LordBest
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Divo 286. 1700, Union de la France et de l'Espagne.Obv. Bust right LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev. Personficiations of France and Spain, each holding a shield, clasping hands CONCORDIA FRANCIAE ET HISPANIAE MDCC
Commemorating the alliance between France and Spain.LordBest
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Jean Warin, Master of all Arts. 1684.Obv: Bust of Jean Warin IEAN. VARIN. CONER. DESTAT. INTEND. GL. D. BATS. E. D. MOES. D.F
Rev: Medallic Art flanked by Painting and Sculpture. The center figure, representing Medal Making, is holding a portrait medal of Warin. .VNE. SEVLE. SVFF ISOIT. POVR. LE. RENDRE. IMMORTAL. (A Single One Would Have Sufficed to Render Him Immortal)
in ex MDCLXXXIIII
Signed: DVFOVR
Jean Warin was born at Liege about 1604 and died in Paris in 1672. He is considered to be one of the foremost medallists of France and the best French Engraver of coin-dies of the seventeenth century. Of the many medals attributed to him, most were engraved and struck although some were cast. Besides medal making Jean Warin had a variety of other interests. He distinguished himself somewhat as a painter but most particularly as a sculptor, even rivaling the great Italian sculptor Bernini. He also experimented in medal making capacity of machinery and helped develop an improved method for coin making. In fact, his fame was established more for his other artistic endeavors than for those as a medallist.
Jean Warin led a somewhat checkered personal life. He seduced the wife of one of his compatriots and was accused at one point of forging coins, for which he was sentenced to banishment for five years. Fortunately for him he had cultivated a champion in Cardinal Richelieu, who, so as not to lose the skill of this great artist, intervened on his behalf, resulting in a pardon.
Jean Warin occupies a pivotal place in the history of medallic art. He took the techniques developed during the Italian renaissance and by mastering the machinery at the Monnaie du Moulin, transformed the art to serve the state. His influence extended not only in France but throughout all of Northern Europe, well into the eighteenth century.LordBest
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Louis XIV. Construction of the Canal du Midi, 1667.Obv. Draped and cuirassed bust right VNDARVM TERRAQVE POTENS ATQVE ARBITER ORBIS LVD XIIII FRA | ET NA REX
Rev. View of City of Toulouse with Canal EXPECTATA DIV POPVLIS COMMERCIA PANDIT 1667 | TOL. VIRIVEQVE MARIE CENDI
AE52, cast. BMC 345.LordBest
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