Medal cast

Two casts, obverse and reverse, of a commemorative medal. Obverse: A cock lying on its back and being bitten by a mouse. Legend: (outer) 'VENERVNT GALLI . MISERI REDIERE CAPONES QVIS CASTRAVIT EOS . MVSCVLVS VNVS ERAT'. (The French came as cocks and returned as capons. Who emasculated them? It was one little mouse). Exergue: 'FOEDVS AVGVSTANVM PROLONGATVM' (Treaty of Augsburg prolonged). Reverse: Pallas standing and pointing to a ship bombarding, Louis XIV kneels before her turning his face from the gorgon's head on her shield. Legend: 'TERROR MAXIMUS EX IMPROVISO' (The greatest terror proceeds from the unexpected). Exergue: 'VRBES GALLIARVM MARI TIMAE FVLMINATAE' (the maritime towns of France bombarded 1694).

Object Details

ID: SEC1001
Type: Medal cast
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wermuth, Christian
Date made: 1694
People: King Louis XIV of France
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Wellcome Collection
Measurements: Overall: 5 mm x 61 mm