2017-05-22 Mon

Dix Noonan Webb is going to offer a unique Dutch 1672 bronze medal at an auction from 14th to 16th June. The medal presents the history of two brothers who opposed the William of Orange, and their brutal killing

Cornelius de Witt (1623 to 1672) stood with Adm. Michael de Ruyter against the navies of united England and France. His brother Johan de Witt (1625 to 1672) was a part of the states-rights party which was against the house of Orange who followed the federal principle.

Johan de Witt’s diplomatic skill led to the Triple Alliance between the Dutch Republic, England and Sweden in 1668, preventing the French attack of Spanish Netherlands. In 1672, Charles II of England asked France to stop supporting the Dutch. Louis XIV of France declared a war and attacked the United Provinces.

The Dutch people wanted William III of Orange to lead. The de Witt brothers opposed William III, leading to violent demonstrations against them. Cornelius was arrested for conspiring against the prince. A crowd attacked the two brothers and remains were hung from a lamp-post. It is believed that attackers also indulged in cannibalism. The obverse of the large bronze medal by French artist Pierre Aury features the two brothers. The reverse features the killing of the two brothers by a many-headed monster of savage animals. The Good Very Fine medal has an estimate of £500 to £700.