1697 French Victories Against Spain (Cartagena Captured) Medal. Betts-86. Bronze. MS-65 BN (NGC).
40.8 mm. 506.4 grains. Plain edge. A beautiful example of this elusive medal, struck here from an obverse die with a broken J in the engraver's signature. Lustrous and lightly reflective medium brown with outlines of mint color around legends. Aside from a little lamination under the portrait, this medal has no notable flaws. The type that makes up Betts-85 and Betts-86 celebrates three French victories. Betts was interested in Cartagena, but this reverse also celebrates Ath, in Belgium, and Barcelona, in Spain.
From the Joe Foster Collection. Earlier ex A.H. Baldwin & Sons, June 1969; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, January 2006, lot 787; unrecorded seller, via eBay, June 2019.

Estimate: $1000