Medal commemorating the bombardment of Havre, 1694

Medal commemorating the bombardment of Havre, 1694. Obverse: Bust of King William III laureate, in a wig and mantle (right). Legend: 'INVICTISSIMVS GUILLELMVS MAG'. Reverse: A brazen bull standing on a platform, flames below, Havre on fire and boats full of troops in the distance. Legend: 'SVIS PERIT IGNIBUS AVCTOR' (The inventor perishes in his own flames). Exergue: 'PORTVS . GRATIAE . EXVSTVS ET . EVERSVS . BOMBARD[IS] ANGLO . BATAV[IS] MDCXCIIII' (Havre de Grace burnt and destroyed by the bombardment of the English and Dutch 1694). The bull is a reference to Perillus of Agrigentum, who invented the torture of placing the victims of the tyrant of that city inside a heated brazen bull. He himself perished by the same means.

Object Details

ID: MEC0144
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Boskam, J.
Places: Netherlands
Events: Nine Years' War: Bombardment of Havre, 1694
Date made: 1694
People: King William III
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 60 mm