102005 | FRANCE & NETHERLANDS. Lodge La Vertu gilt silver Medal.

102005  |  FRANCE & NETHERLANDS. Lodge La Vertu gilt silver Medal. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the lodge and the gunpowder explosion at Leiden (38mm x 45mm, 20.63 g, 12h). By D. P. Wilno.

 

VIRTUTIS SOCIIS FRATERNO MORE LIGATIS PROSPERA CONTINGIT CLAUDERE LUSTRA DECEM DIE 19 OCT 5807, female personification of Leiden kneeling right, trying to hold back the Grim Reaper (as a skeleton), holding scythe; demolished city in background; altar bearing scrolls and decorated with ouroboros and 1/2 between them; in three lines in exergue, DIE 12 IAN DEUS / NOS OMNES / SERVAVIT / VIVAT LUDOVICUS NAPOLEON BENEFICUS HOLLANDIAE REX! / civic coat-of-arms; in nine lines below, 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. Edge: Some marks at a portion of the edges, and with loop and clasp attached at the top; otherwise plain.

 

Bramsen 669; Dirks 1933; Julius 1809. Mint State Details. Some deeper toning nearer the peripheries on the obverse, though numerous hairlines from a prior cleaning are noted. Nevertheless, extremely rare and interesting, with just 48 produced in gilt silver, and 154 in silver, one of the latter recently selling for €2,640 in September 2022.

 

A massive explosion took place in the city of Leiden in January 1807 which, at the time, was a part of the Kingdom of Holland—a client state among Napoleon's exploits across Europe. Given the expectation that the kingdom would be attacked by the British, a great deal of gunpowder was ordered to be on hand, with one of the barges carrying the munitions sparking an explosion that destroyed a portion of the city and killing some 155 people. The temple of the Lodge La Vertu was located in the blast zone, hence the reference to it on this medal. Upon hearing of the destruction, the King of Holland, Louis Napoleon (Bonaparte), arrived to assist in rebuilding the city and calming the public. One such medal was made in gold for the king, while another 48 in gilt silver and 154 in silver—one less than the number of lives lost in the blast.

 

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