NETHERLANDS. Assassination of the De Witt Brothers Silver Medal, 1672. CHOICE UNCIRCULATED. Unsigned. Diameter: 48mm. Weight: 41.38g. Obverse: Busts of Johan and Cornelius de Witt facing right, perimeter legend - ILLVSTRISSIMI.FRATRES.JOHANN:ET.CORNEL:DE.WITT; Reverse: decorative laurel border, draped garland above, decorative vines below, and eight line legend - Twee witten, eensgezint...; Edge: VIOLENTA MORTE DELETI . HAGÆ COMITIS . 20 AVG: AO . 1672 . and hallmark. Cornelius and his younger brother Johan were members of an old Dutch patrician family and held a number of important political posts. As supporters of the Dutch States Party, they ran afoul of the Orangists, and both were killed and mutilated by an Orangist conspiracy. In this political (and personal safety) context, the author of this unsigned medal is thought to be Pierre Aury (or Avry), also referred to as F. Avry" and suggested as a pseudonym for P. Xavery (Forrer). An attractive medal with lustrous, reflective fields with cerulean and gold highlights.
