Historical and Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss

DEATH OF WILLIAM II, PRINCE OF ORANGE

DADLER, Sebastian: Netherlands, 1650, Silver, 69 mm
Obv:  Unmounted horse in front of view of Amsterdam. On saddle of horse, an open book with the inscription UNIO RELIGIO [unionem religionemque]. (They Provide Religious Unity). Below book on saddle is inscribed SIMULANT. (They Pretend a Thing Is So). Around: CRIMINE AB UNO DISCE OMNEIS. MDCL. XXX IULII. (From One Crime They May Learn All, July 30, 1650).
Exergue:  QUIA BELLA VETABAT. (Because He Had Forbidden Wars).
Rev:  Phaethon falling from the Chariot of the Sun into a river after being hit by Zeus’ lightning bolt; below, a view of the funeral procession at the Hague MAGNIS EXCIDIT AUSIS. MDCL. VI NOVEMBRIS. (He Had to Take Leave of a Grand Enterprise on November 6, 1650).
Signed:  SD
Ref:  Wiecek 133; Welzl 9242; Van Loon II 341; Europese Penningen # 1079;  Maué 76;  Weiss BW131

William II, Prince of Orange (1626-1650), was born at The Hague, the son of Frederick Henry, prince of Orange, and grandson of William the Silent. He was stadtholder of several Dutch provinces. In 1641, at the age of 14, William married then nine-year-old Mary Henrietta Stuart, eldest daughter of king Charles I of England. William's dynastic ambitions were thwarted by his early death of small pox on November 6, 1650. He was succeeded by his son, the future William III, king of England.  William III married Mary, eldest daughter of James, duke of York (the future James II), the brother of Charles II.  James II, when he was king, fled to France thereby abdicating the throne, which was then conferred jointly on William (III) and Mary (II) in 1689 as part of the Glorious Revolution.
Phaethon (Phaeton), in Greek mythology, was the son of Helios the sun god and the nymph Clymene. He persuaded his father to let him drive the chariot of the sun across the sky, but he lost control of the horses and, driving too near the earth, scorched it. To save the world from utter destruction, Zeus killed Phaethon with a thunderbolt and he fell to earth. The fall indicates the transitoriness of human life. 

The medal commemorates the death of William II, Prince of Orange. The obverse is to reflect on his death. The reverse may refer to a failed attempt by William II to conquer Amsterdam.

LINK to article : Medals of the Glorious Revolution: The Influence of Catholic-Protestant
Antagonism by Benjamin Weiss (from ANS Magazine)

LINK to painting to commemorate the bethrothal of William and Mary Henrietta Stuart by Anthon van Dyck (from wikipedia)

LINK to painting of William II and Mary Stuart by Gerard van Honthorst (from wikipedia)

LINK to painting Fall of Phaeton by Peter Paul Rubens (from National Gallery of Art)

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