European Medals from 1513 to 1788
Great Britain / Holy Roman Empire. Charles VI (1711-1740) and George I (1714-1727), Medal (Silver, 44mm, 28.93 g 12), on the naval victory of the British fleet over the Spanish at Cape Passaro on 11 August 1718, by G. W. Vestner in Nuremberg, 1718. VETANT FOEDARI FOEDERA (= they forbid the violation of treaties ) On the left, laureate bust of Charles VI to right, surrounded by CAROLVS VI D G ROM IMP SEMP AVG, all within a laurel wreath; on the right, laureate bust of George I to left, surrounded by GEORGIVS D G MAG PR FR ET HIB R, all within a laurel wreath; between them, winged caduceus on beflagged galley. Rev. SIC MOTOS FAS EST COMPONERE FLVCTVS (= thus is it right to calm the troubled waves ) Jupiter on his eagle within the clouds, and Neptune in a scallop shell powered by a waterwheel, attacking a fleet on the sea to left, in exergue, the chronogram H ISPANORVM CLASSIS A IOVE ET NEPTVNO DELETA (= the Spanish fleet destroyed by Jupiter and Neptune, MDCLLVVVIII [=1718] ). Bernheimer 128. MI II, p. 440, 43. A lovely example with beautiful toning. A few very minor marks, otherwise , good extremely fine. Ex WAG 54, 14 September 2010, 2475. This medal commemorates Admiral Byng’s massive defeat of the Spanish off Sicily: this occurred because the Spanish had invaded Sardinia and Sicily to recover the territories lost through the Treaty of Utrecht that ended the War of the Spanish Succession. This ultimately led to the War of the Quadruple Alliance (England, the Empire, France and the Dutch Republic); the Spanish were defeated and the war was ended with the Treaty of the Hague in February 1720. Interestingly enough, this was one of the very few times France was allied with Britain prior to the 20th century.