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NETHERLANDS, oval silver medal, 1807, Leiden, Masonic lodge "La Vertu" / Louis Napoleon, by D.P. Wil

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Medals Start Price:700.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
NETHERLANDS, oval silver medal, 1807, Leiden, Masonic lodge  La Vertu  / Louis Napoleon, by D.P. Wil
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NETHERLANDS, oval silver medal, 1807, Leiden, Masonic lodge "La Vertu" / Louis Napoleon, by D.P. Wilno, very rare. Bramsen-669; Julius-1809; Nahuys-I 5.32; Kreeft-6; KPK-3859. 29.55 grams. 45.9mm x 38.2mm. Obverse with female personification of the city of Leiden kneeling before the Grim Reaper with demolished city in background within legend VIRTUTIS SOCIIS FRATERNO MORE LIGATIS PROSPERA CONTINGIT CLAUDERE LUSTRA DECEM DIE 19 OCT 5807, exergue with DIE 12 IAN DEUS / NOS OMNES / SERVAVIT; reverse with legend VIVAT LUDOVICUS NAPOLEON BENEFICUS HOLLANDIAE REX! around nine-line inscription DUM REPETET SUBITAM, / TIBI, REX: TUA LEIDA RUINAM, / REDDETUR GRATAE DEBITUS / URBIS AMOR. / VIRTUTIS NOMEN FRATRUM / LAUDESQUE MANEBUNT, / DUM PIETAS MISERIS / DULCE LEVAMEN ERIT. / S. S. V. D. E. below small coat-of-arms for the city of Leiden. This dramatically allegorical piece of art commemorates the January 12, 1807, destruction of part of Leiden from a gunpowder explosion that claimed 151 lives, injured over 2,000, and destroyed around 220 homes, in addition to the Masonic lodge "La Vertu" mentioned in the inscription. At the time, Leiden was part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland and was bracing for attack from the British. Within just five hours of the explosion, King Louis Napoleon provided soldiers for the city's reconstruction, donated 30,000 guilders, granted a ten-year tax exemption, and even sent his personal physician, which earned him the nickname "Louis the Good." This example is an attractively toned AU with old hairlines, original loop at top incorporated into the high rims.