MDC MONACO JEAN LECOMPTE COLONIAL TOKENS

Jean Lecompte is the world-renowned specialist in French colonies numismatics and the author of the reference book on the subject (Monnaies et jetons des colonies française, Gadoury editions, 2007). French colonial empire numismatics is extremely rich and varied from all parts of the world and the five continents (America, Africa, Indochina, Oceania, and even Terre Adélie). The first part of his collection, the medals of the French colonies was sold in Paris, hôtel Drouot (expert: S. Sombart) in 2018. Today, it is a second part, with 161 lots presented in Monaco by experts: N. Gimbert and S. Sombart. Exceptional tokens, some unique or from prestigious collections such as that from King Farouk of Egypt, are on sale in this exceptional October 20 and 21 2021 auction. The Jean Lecompte collection is so significant a special catalog will be published separately from the auction.

 

lot 1361.
AMERICA-CANADA (French Colonies), Louis XV (1715-1774). Medal, commemorating a June 8, 1755 battle, the beginning of the Seven Years' War. By Peter Paul Werner 1755, Nuremberg.

Obv. SALVS IN FLVCTIBVS. On shore, Mercury standing face-on, his hand raised to his ear to listen, between two vessels seen from the rear, one with the Irish flag, the other with a French flag; in exergue: STATVS RERVM and P. P. W. signature.

Rv. SED MOTOS PRAESTAT COMPONERE FLVCTVS. By the ocean, a crowned allegory with a scepter, seated left on a sea-horse, a cornucopia at her feet, holding a temple, on the other side a Native American on the right, her foot on an alligator, holding a bow and arrow; in exergue: SVB EXITVM ANNI MDCCLV. Lec.97a = cet ex. - Frossard 52 - Betts 392 ; Silver - 14,54 g - 35 mm - 12 h.

PCGS MS 62. Top Pop: The finest graded! Provenance: Jean Lecompte collection. This coin illustrated in the Jean Lecompte book, Monnaies et jetons des colonies française (The French Colonies Coins and Tokens) Gadoury editions, 2007, pp. 164-169

Slight handling marks. Beautiful patina. Extremely fine to Fleur de coin. Starting price: 2 000 €

This medal [classified as a token by J. Lecompte] commemorates the June 8, 1755 battle in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: the event precluding the 1756 declaration of the Seven Years' War between France and Austria against England and Prussia. In 1754, following several clashes between French and British Colonial forces, the British government sent troops to occupy Fort Duquesne, near present-day Pittsburgh, [Pennsylvania]. France was alerted and sent eighteen ships under the command of the squadron-chiefs Dubois de La Motte with reinforcement troops. Three armed vessels, four frigates and eleven ships of the line serving as troop transporters set out for Quebec.

The English Royal Navy sent two fleets to intercept the French, led by vice-admiral Boscawen and Vice-Admiral Francis Holburne. After five hours of fighting, the French ships Alcide (64 guns) and the Lys (22 guns) lowered their flags. The Dauphin Royal (22 guns) escaped to Louisbourg. Most of the French convoy managed to escape the British fleet. This deliberate aggression was an act of war. The British attack caused panic in Paris where the stock market collapsed because of the threat to Colonial trade. English propaganda reported a victory, however inglorious, since most of the French convoy passed safely. On August 29, 1756, the attack on Saxony by the Prussian King Frederick II led to the Seven Years' War.

Jean Lecompte collection are lots n° 155-185, 337, 366-369, 523, 684-685, 785-787, 822-825, 832, 924-925, 1060-1066, 1070-1077, 1089-1099, 1207-1220, 1227-1228, 1230-1232, 1267-1276, 1323-1325, 1348-1350, 1352, 1361-1409.

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