Great Britain 1704'British Victories' Queen Anne Sterling Silver Medal

Queen Anne - "British Victories" sterling silver medal 1704 deeply engraved with a high-relief portrait showing superb detail, high rims, bold Lettered Edge. Design by Hautsch, whose initial appears below the queen's portrait. Engraving on the reverse is especially superb, showing a naval battle scene to the right of a giant palm tree bearing victory shields, and to left "GIBRALTAR" depicted as gateway to the Mediterranean. Beneath the palm tree, Britannia receives the fruits of victory from Neptune. A splendid piece, rife with patriotic symbolism, struck in the same year as the monumental Battle of Blenheim, which brought the Duke of Marlborough to great prominence and gave to his family, through royal charter in perpetuity, the famous family home named after the battle. It was also during this reign that Sarah Churchill became the queen's favored advisor in most matters of state and of society. Anne's was a reign of great prosperity and social elegance. This piece captures that spirit magnificently. Edge plain with inscription in latin: IN OMNI GENTE, QVÆ AVDIERIT NOMENTVVM, MAGNIFICABITVR SVPER TE DEVS ISRAEL.

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