European Medals from 1513 to 1788
Netherlands, The Dutch Republic. Zeeland . Medal (Silver, 70mm, 117.19 g 12), on the recovery of a sunken treasure near West-Kapelle by a team led by Marseilis van der Goes, by an unknown engraver, 1660. SOLI DEO HONOR M. V. GOES ET GLORIA (= Marcel van der Goes gives honor and glory solely to God ) Two salvage boats on either side of a wrecked ship; on board the boats, crewmen using a special apparatus to raise up items within the wreck; behind view of the city of West-Kapelle. Rev. Inscription of 14 lines: In memoriam rei / Quâ arte admirandâ / priorumq/3 faeculorum cogitata / fuperante, prope Valacros in ple / no ac aeftuanti mari, fub aufpiciis / Senatus Zelandici ac procuranti / Marcel. Goefio e navi submersâ ac / disruptâ profundumq/3 fub arenis la= / titante immenfa argenti, tum rudis / tum signati, vis, gemme plures, ac / tormenta bellica, fubducta, ser= / vata ac veteribus dominis / ex jure reftituta funt / 1660 (= a memorial of how, by an admirable art, surpassing the inventions of past centuries, under the auspices of the Deputy Councillors of Zeeland and under the direction of Marcellus van der Goes, a great quantity of coined and bullion silver, many precious stones and many cannon were raised up near Walcheren, from a vessel lost, destroyed and sunk in the sands, and then returned to their proper owners ); all within an olive wreath entwined with the names and arms of the eight directors of the project. TMNK 00681. Van Loon II, pp. 458-460. A nicely toned and very rare medal. Some minor marks, otherwise , extremely fine. A fascinating medal commemorating the recovery of silver, gems and cannon carried on a merchant ship, which had sunk a few years earlier under the command of the very appropriately named Captain Waterdrinker.