Undated (ca. 1560) Philip II King of the New World Reliqvvm Datura Medal. Brass, Cast. 38.5 mm, rims 2.0 to 2.2 mm. Betts-12, Van Loon I, 283. Very Fine, Holed. Fine cast, not chased. Neatly holed at top for suspension. The surfaces display uniform brassy-gold patina throughout and are attractive and free of significant marks. Wear is moderate and generally confined to the high points. The design retains plenty of bold detail on both sides. This is a great rarity of the early Betts series. Ford owned three specimens, including the present example, all of which were cast from the same dies; the lead cast in our (Stacks) Ford XIII sale of January 2006 realized a remarkable $8,050. Since then we have only offered one other example, the struck bronze medal that brought $4,025 as lot 6006 in our September 2009 Philadelphia Americana Sale.The reference on this medal is to a side agreement at Peace of Cambrai in 1559 between Spain and France, essentially agreeing that west of the prime meridian and south of the Tropic of Cancer the spoils would go to the mightiest power, that no actions there would violate previously signed treaties. The Tropic of Cancer is shown in some detail on the globe on the reverse, a line that cuts through the Strait of Florida. While this agreement is somewhat obscure, aside from the requisite full description in Davenports emEuropean Treaties Bearing on the History of the United States and Its Dependencies/em, this medal is well known to Betts enthusiasts. A rare and significant offering. Ex Fred Baldwin, August 2, 1969; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIII, January 2006, lot 668.
