240, Lot: 599. Estimate $300. Sold for $330. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

STUART. Anne. 1702-1714. AR Medal (42mm, 29.41 g, 12h). Dated 1706. Anne (as Minerva) left, overwhelming Louis XIV of France (as a Roman soldier) right / Tower under seige. MI 289/98; Eimer 422. Near EF, some cleaning marks.

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.