Description

Geneva, Extremely rare Medal, honouring Bern and Zurich officers for protection against the Savoy. Struck in 1692. 49.5 mm, 48.28 grams Since this medal was officially struck at a weight of 1.5 Ecu, the condition of the medal leads to a conclusion that it was for some time used as a circulation coin, of a large denomination, in fact the largest silver coin in circulation during this time period was of the weight of 1 Ecu. "Silver medals given to the lower-ranking Zurich officers. — It has been deliberated once again to give each of the subordinate officers, who number seven or eight, a silver medal, weighing one and a half escus, which would be handed to them in Lausanne or Bern by Mr. Wertmüller, who will not leave until tomorrow. He would be informed that the prompt departure of the said troops, before the said medals were finished, did not allow them to be given before their departure. Following this discussion, it has been decided that each officer will receive a silver medal, which will be handed to Mr. Wertmüller. Here are the medals that can without dispute be considered as having been issued in 1692: — The three coats of arms of Zurich, Bern, and Geneva, placed side by side in very closely connected cartouches, linked together and surmounted by a sun with eight straight rays and eight wavy rays. At the center of the sun, within a circle, the letters IHS. Below the cartouches, in three lines: TRIA PROTEGIT VNVS * On the reverse: A bird's-eye view of Geneva, taken from the lake, surmounted by the city's coat of arms in a cartouche, with a sun as the crest, flanked by a banner with the inscription geneva • civitas. Below, on a banner, POST • TENEBRAS • LVX. Diameter: 0.050 m. Weight: 45.50 grams. Numismatic Cabinet of Geneva. Plate I, no. 1. Haller1, II, p. 54, no. 84. Blavignac2, p. 316, no. 14." Inv: 59985P24135