LUGDUNUM AUCTION 21 HIGHLIGHTS

It is a great honor and a great pleasure for us to have the opportunity to offer in this auction a group of exceptional medals from the Collection of Martine, Comtesse de Béhague (1870-1939), one of the most important French art collectors, numismatists and benefactors of the early 20th Century.

For any connoisseur, numismatist or art collector, artefacts with a provenance from her famous collection are of the greatest desire. The Comtesse did only collect the best pieces of Art available at her time and that is the reason why this provenance is considered as a guaranty of great artistic merit, rarity and good taste.

This group of medals is made of six specimens, that we would like to introduce in a few words:

The first medal (lot n°48) is an extremely rare silver medal struck in 1455 by the French King Charles VII (1422-1461). Also called Calaisienne, it commemorates the end of the Hundred Years' War and the following expulsion of the English from the French territory. Of the highest historical importance and of great artistic merit, it appeared for the last time on the market almost a century ago, in December 1921.

The second medal (lot n°53) is an unpublished gold medal of François de France, Duc d'Anjou (1555-1584). Cast in 1580, it must be linked to the Treaty of Plessis-lès-Tours that took place in September 1580 and paved the way to the formal independence of the United Provinces or Dutch Republic.

The third medal (lot n°58) is a very artistic gold medal for Maria de Medici (1610-1614) attributed to the famous French sculptor Guillaume Dupré (1576-1643). Cast somewhere between 1610 and 1614, it is a masterpiece of medallic art in very high relief illustrating to perfection the opulence and ambition of the French Queen.

The fourth medal (lot n°59) is a large gold medal (116 g.) for the French King Louis XIII (1610-1643) signed by Guillaume Dupré. Cast in 1623 to commemorate the quell of the first Huguenot Rebellion, it is an extremely rare testimony of the great riches of the first half of the 17th Century.

The fifth medal (lot n°96) is a very rare gold medal of the Tudor King Henry VIII (1509-1547) struck in London in 1545. Also known as the Supremacy Medal, it commemorates the assumption by the King of the title of Supreme Head of the Church of England and is considered as the first English commemorative medal ever minted.

The sixth medal (lot n°142) is a 5 Goldgulden piece from Hildesheim (Germany) struck in 1528. It was mounted, probably at the beginning of the 17th century, in a very well decorated pendant with pearls and enamel.

Finally, we are very pleased to mention that the consignor, owner by descent of these medals, has generously decided to donate the proceeds of the sale of this group (as well as of lot n°137) to support the reconstruction and restoration of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris.

To read the complete catalogue online:
https://lugdunum.auex.de/img/lose/Kataloge/Auktion_21/index.html

To watch the videos:
The Supremacy Medal (https://www.lugdunum-numismatik.com/en/supremacy-medal)
The Justitia Medal (https://www.lugdunum-numismatik.com/en/justitia-medal)
The Medal of splendour (https://www.lugdunum-numismatik.com/en/medal-opulence)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
DR JONAS FLUECK FORMS LUGDUNUM GMBH (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n47a15.html)
THE 1455 CALAISIENNE MEDAL OF CHARLES VII (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n10a19.html)

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