ST. URBAIN, Ferdinand de: Lorraine, ca. 1720, Bronze, 47 mm
Obv: Bust (l)   NICOLAVS. A. LOT. COM. VAD. TVT. CAR. III. ET. LOT. B. ADM. CVM. CHRISTINA. A.D.
Rev: Bust (r)   CHRISTINA. A. DANIA. LOTH. BAR. GEL. DVCISSA
Signed:  SV.
Ref: From the Series of the Dukes and Duchesses of Lorraine.  Weiss BW772
RARE: Unlisted in Forrer and Mirnik

Nicholas of Lorraine-Mercœur, Duke of Mercœur (Bar-le-Duc, 1524-1577) was the second son of Antoine, Duke of Lorraine and Renée of Bourbon-Montpensier.

He was originally destined for an ecclesiastical career, being made bishop of Metz in 1543 and Verdun in 1544. In 1545, he became joint "tutor and administrator" for his nephew, Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, with his sister-in-law Christina of Denmark. However, the Estates of Lorraine, in 1545, removed him in favor of a sole regency by Christina. He opposed the pro-Imperial politics of Christina, and he took the title of Count of Vaudémont and resigned his bishoprics in 1548, in favor of his uncle John, Cardinal of Lorraine. After the seizure of the Three Bishoprics in 1552 by Henry II of France, he was re-appointed as sole regent for his nephew, a position he maintained until 1559.

In 1551, Nicholas was created Marquis of Nomeny by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1567. In France, he was honored by the elevation of his mother's barony of Mercœur to a principality in 1563 and a peerage duchy in 1569; he was also created a knight of the Order of Saint Esprit.

Portrait of Christina of Denmark , Duchess of Milan by Hans Holbein (from wikipedia)