Capture of Lille Medal

Holy Roman Empire - Capture of Lille. Nuremberg, Lauffer workshop. Attributed to Caspar Gottlieb Lauffer, possibly with Friedrich Kleinert. 49mm. Julius 702; MI II 339/170; Van Loon IV, p. 544 / V-119/4; Horsky 7612; Popelka 131; Senk 244. Struck to commemorate the Allied capture of Lille during the War of the Spanish Succession. One side presents a dramatic panoramic view of Lille under bombardment, with its fortifications, artillery, sun and moon, accompanied by the biblical invocation from Joshua 10:12. The inscription records the siege and surrender of the citadel on 9 December 1708. The other depicts the Tower of Babel, using the biblical confusion of languages as a satirical allegory for the defeated French forces, while recording Prince Eugene of Savoy's siege and capture of Lille. Provenance: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, 4 September 2026, lot 42045.