Medal commemorating naval victory at the Battle of Lowestoft
John Roettiers (1631- London 1703)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1665
Materials
Silver
Measurements
63 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Great Britain
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773268
Summary
Silver, medal commemorating the naval victory over Holland, at the Battle of Lowestoft, by John Roettiers (1631-1703), London, United Kingdom, 1665. A silver medal by John Roettiers commemorating the defeat by the British Navy of the Dutch, at the Battle of Lowestoft, on 3 June 1665. On the obverse Charles II (1630-85) is shown facing right wearing a Roman toga, a laurel wreath in his hair. Latin legend translates as ‘Charles II by Grace of God King of Britain, France and Ireland.’ On reverse, Charles II, in Roman dress, stands at right and views the battle, the two foreground ships sailing before the wind. The legend 'PRO.TALIBVS./.AVSIS.' translates as ‘For such enterprises’ and is taken from Virgil's Aeneid, II, 535 or XII, 351.
Full description
The medal was made after the successful defeat of the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Lowestoft, on 3 June 1665 in Southwold Bay off Lowestoft, by the English fleet under the command of the Duke of York (later James II/VII), Prince Rupert and the Earl of Sandwich. During this engagement, the Dutch admiral Jacob van Wassanaer, Heer van Obdam, was killed and nineteen ships destroyed or captured. The medal was made to be given as a reward to officers who had distinguished themselves in the action. It was deliberately not dated or inscribed with reference to the battle, however, so that it might be used for the same purpose on other occasions. Jeremy Warren 2019
Provenance
Given to the National Trust in 1993 by George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (1910-1998).
Credit line
National Trust Collections (Osterley Park, The Jersey Collection)
Marks and inscriptions
Obverse, legend: .CAROLVS.SECVNDVS.D.G.MAG.BRI.FRAN.ET.HIB.REX Reverse, legend: PRO.TALIBVS./.AVSIS.
Makers and roles
John Roettiers (1631- London 1703), medallist
References
Hawkins, E. (ed.) Franks, A.W. and Grueber, H.A: Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the death of George II, 2 vols,. London, 1885, vol. I, p. 503, no. 139 Eimer 2010: Christopher Eimer, British Commemorative Medals and their Values, London 2010, p. 56, no. 230