1697 Bronze Medal Betts-86B, French Victory

Coin Details

Description

This 1697 bronze medal (Betts-86B) commemorates a French military victory, part of the extensive medal program of Louis XIV that documented every significant event of his long reign. The 1697 date places this medal during the final phase of King William's War (1689-1697), known in Europe as the War of the League of Augsburg, which was the first of the major colonial conflicts between France and England in North America. The Treaty of Ryswick in 1697 ended the war and temporarily restored the colonial status quo. The "B" suffix indicates a variant within the Betts-86 designation. The Betts series documents the full arc of European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere, from the earliest Spanish exploration medals through the diplomatic pieces marking American independence. French Victory medals from this era document the Sun King's determination to project power across the Atlantic while simultaneously fighting European wars on multiple fronts.

Rarity Notes

Original 1697 bronze striking. King William's War era. Rare.

Cross References

Betts-86B; French Victory; King William's War 1697; Treaty of Ryswick