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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Iosephus, post: 2840235, member: 71955&quot;]<b>Henri II</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Attributed to Étienne Delaune, c. 1556.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1110.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1110.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1110.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><i>Bronze, 53.8 mm Ø, 54.6 g</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Henri II facing right, laureate, draped and cuirassed. Around, HENRICVS · II · GALLIARVM REX INVICTISS · P P · (<i>Henri II, Most Invincible King of the French, Father of the Country</i>).</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Two armies facing each other, in front of which two generals on horseback clasp hands. Above, Victory flying overhead.</p><p>Henri II (1519-1547-1559) declared war against Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1551 with the intention of recapturing Italy and making France the dominant European power. With the signing of the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1559, France renounced claims to Italian territory, though it did gain other territory. While Spain still remained as the dominant power in Europe, the Holy Roman Empire had also been weakened. While at a jousting match during celebrations for the signing of this treaty, a fragment from a splintered lance wounded Henri in the eye, and he died from this on July 10, 1559.</p><p><br /></p><p>Jones notes that the reverse design seems related to a medal design by Delaune which dates from 1556. Also, unlike a number of other struck medals with the same obverse inscription and a similar portrait, this medal is known only in cast examples.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References:</b> Jones 1982, nos. 71-72; Rouhette and Tuzio 2008, no. 28</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Antoine Ruzé</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Work of Jean Warin, 1629.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1114.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1114.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.virtuscollection.com/pics/1114.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><i>Bronze, 67.3 mm Ø, 115.7 g</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Antoine Ruzé facing right, wearing lace collar, armor decorated with a lion&#039;s head on the shoulder, and ribbon with the cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit. Around, A · RVZE · M · DEFFIAT · ET · D · LONIVMEAV · SVRT · DES · FINANCES · (<i>Antoine Ruzé, Marquis of Effiat and Longjumeau, Superintendent of Finance</i>).</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Atlas placing the burden of the world on the back of Hercules. The lion head of Hercules&#039;s cloak and his club lay on the ground to the right. In the background, landscape with small figures. Around, QVIDQVID · EST · IVSSVM · LEVE · EST · (<i>Whatever is commanded is easy</i>). In exergue, incuse · 1629 · .</p><p><br /></p><p>Antoine Coëffier (1581-1632) took the name Ruzé from his uncle, Martin Ruzé, who was the Superintendent of Mines. Through this relationship he gained access to the French court, and under Richelieu became marquis of Longjumeau in 1621 and of Effiat in 1624. Ruzé, ambassador in London, negotiated the marriage of Charles I of England to Henrietta Maria, sister of Louis XIII. He was appointed Superintendent of Finances in 1629, accompanied Louis XIII on campaigns in Savoy and Piedmont, and was appointed Marshal of France in January 1631.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse design indicates the willingness of Ruzé, as Hercules, to take on the burdens of state affairs from the king, portrayed as Atlas. There is a superb silver piece signed by Warin in the collection of the British Museum, allowing for a positive attribution to him.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References:</b> Jones 1988, nos. 180-181; Pollard 2007b, no. 660; Scher 1994, no. 152[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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