CNG 85, Lot: 1588. Estimate $400. Sold for $510. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

STUART. Anne. 1702-1714. AR Medal (42mm, 29.86 g, 12h). Victory over Louis XIV. Dated 1706. LVDOVICVS MAGNVS ANNA MAIOR, Anne (as Minerva) left, overwhelming Louis XIV of France (as a Roman soldier) right / PERCVTE ME NE DICATVR QVOD A FEMINA INTERFECTVS SIM · IVDIC · C · 9 ·, tower under seige. Edge: + DOMINVS TRADIDIT EVM IN MANVS FŒMINÆ · IVDITH · XVI · C ·. MI 289/98; Eimer 422. EF, attractively toned.

From a California Collection of British Historical Medals. Ex Baldwin’s 51 (25 April 2007), lot 1324.

The recent defeats of France, as well as Louis XIV’s adopting the title of ‘Great’ (magnus), led to the design of this medal. If Louis were great, then Anne was surely greater (maior). Additionally, the reverse satirizes the French losses to Great Britain, or, more appropriately, Louis’ defeat by Anne, a woman, who is compared to Judith who destroyed Holofernes as well as to the woman who slew Abimelech.