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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 765

Death of William III, AR Medal, 1702, by M. Smeltzing, GULIELM : III • TRISTI DOLENDUS IN AEVO •, laureate, armoured and draped bust right, rev. Temple of Janus with open doors; inside a burning funeral pile, two military standards to the right, eagle flies above, INVICTA VIRTUTE RESURGET • NAT• HAGUE COMITIS D • XIV• 1650 DENAT • KENSINGTON D • XIX • MARTII 1702 • in exergue in four lines, plain edge, 49mm, 48.14g (Eimer -; MI ii 223/550; van Loon IV, 339), some faint surface marks, otherwise richly cabinet toned, about extremely fine and extremely rare, only two traced on CoinArchives by this cataloguer

William III (1650-1702), died from pneumonia aged only fifty-one. William was buried in Westminster Abbey alongside his wife. Upon his death, his sister-in-law and cousin, Anne, became Queen regnant of England, Scotland and Ireland.



The eagle represents William returning to his native land after his labours are completed, or it may be the eagle let loose from the top of his funeral pile to bear his spirit to heaven. The doors of the temple are open, indicative of the warfare with which the encroachments of Louis XIV threatened Europe.

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Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£1500