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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 798

The Death of Duke of Marlborough, AR Medal, 1722, by J. Dassier, IOHAN • CHURC • DUX MARLB •, draped and armoured bust three-quarters right, rev. VBI ADERAT IBI VICTORIA•, Victory with a wreath and palm, stands between military trophies, OB • 27 • JUN • 1722 • NAT • ANN • 74 • in exergue in two lines, plain edge, 42mm, 40.69g (Eimer 495; MI ii 457/68; Harding 59 this medal), with a highly attractive flashy-lustre and iridescent toning, devices pleasingly struck-up, even to the minutest detail, a handsome example, practically as struck

Surprisingly few medals were struck to commemorate the death of the Duke of Marlborough, perhaps this was due to the difficulties associated with combining a Royal portrait with one of a person of lesser rank, a problem during the reign of Queen Anne. This medal, engraved by Jean Dassier who was not an employee of the Mint, has a portrait of the Duke, accompanied on the reverse by a winged figure of Victory. The reverse legend: 'Where he was present there was victory' refers to the fact that the Duke never lost a battle or failed in the siege of a city. The Duke's tomb, which is by Rysbrack and in the chapel at Blenheim, is decorated with enlarged marble copies of Croker's medals the majority of which can be specifically identified.

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Sold for
£3,500

Starting price
£600