Historical Medals

Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1589, a silver jeton, unsigned, Elizabeth I seated left in car, holding palm branch and open prayer book, tandem bona cavsa triumphat, rev. si non viribus at cavsa potiores, tree with fledglings in nest fighting off bird of prey, 29mm, 5.79g (MI I, 153/128; v. Loon I, 388; E 63). Good very fine, cleaned, very rare in silver £800-£1,000

C. Foley Collection, Woolley & Wallis Auction (Salisbury), 16 October 2014, lot 86

A service of thanksgiving for the victory was held at St Paul’s Cathedral on 20 August 1588. The current piece was struck not in London but in Dordrecht, Holland, by Elizabeth’s Protestant Dutch allies in the war against Spain.