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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 768

Duke of Marlborough, and the Battle of Blenheim, AR Medal, 1704, by G. Hautsch, IOH • D • MARLEBVRG • ANG • EXER • CAPIT • GENER •, armoured bust right, rev. MIRATVR TELIS AEMVLA TELA SVIS •, Mars seated, leaning on his shield inscribed MARS VLTOR, watches a scene of battle, OB GALLOS ET BAVAROS DEVICTOS • TALLARDO DVC • AD HOCHSTAD • CAPTO • 1704• in exergue in four lines, FORTVNE OBSEQVENTI DVCIS FORTISSIMI POST PRIMITIAS SCHELLENBERGICAS • on edge, 37mm, 18.48g (Eimer 407; MI ii 256/50; van Loon IV 427), small hairline scratch to reverse field, otherwise with brilliant proof-like surfaces, blue and ochre toning to legends and recesses of devices, practically as struck and very pleasing in hand, rare

In 1704 the British army marched southwards from the Channel coast, shadowed by the French forces. French commanders expected Marlborough to turn west. However, it was only when he turned east at Ulm that his intention - to remove the threat posed to Vienna and the Emperor by the French victories of 1703 - became clear. The whole march, which was about 400 miles in length, took about six weeks and was a brilliant feat of organisation and endurance. On its completion, Marlborough linked up with forces from Prussia and the German states. After capturing the Fort at Schellenburg and the Lech, the two armies faced one another in the vicinity of Blenheim. Despite the French having rather superior numbers and better artillery, Marlborough emerged victorious after driving many thousands of the French cavalry to their death in the Daube, and capturing a further 13,000 infantrymen in the village of Blenheim itself. On the return march, the Allies also captured the towns of Ulm, Landau, Trier and Trabach. The scale of the victory was such that Louis began to think in terms of an honourable exit from the war which he himself had provoked.

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Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£900