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Catherine de’Medici, Queen (1547-1559). Silver Medal.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:750.00 USD
Catherine de’Medici, Queen (1547-1559). Silver Medal.
52mm. 66.87 g. On the Death of her husband, Henri II, 1559. Unsigned, likely done at the Monnaie du Moulin by/or under the direction of Alexandre Olivier and/or Pierre Regnier, ca. 1630-1635. Later strike. Veiled bust left wearing ruff; KATHERINA.DE.MEDICIS.REGINA.FRAN. Reverse: Lance broken in two; LACRIMAE. HINC. HINC. DOLOR. (“Tears from this, from this sorrow”). In PCGS holder graded SP 62. PCGS Certification Number 929264.62 The reverse refers to the cause of the unexpected death of the young and popular Henri II. During a jousting tournament held at the end of June 1559 to celebrate the peace treaty between France and Spain, the king was paired against Gabriel de Montgomery, Captain of the Scottish Guard. Montgomery’s lance shattered against Henri’s helmet and a lone splinter entered his eye. The splinter entered his brain causing sepsis and the king died 10 days later on July 10.