Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

Malta, The Defence of Malta, 1565, a cast bronze medal signed F.C., bust of Jean de la Vallette right, rev. David in the act of decapitating Goliath, Philistines fleeing at right, 49mm, 53.84g/6h (Kress 376; Armand I, 262.4; Schembri 3; Furse p.323; cf. Humphris Collection, Sotheby, 3 October 1996, 70). A later cast from a previously pierced medal; lacking fine detail, otherwise about very fine and patinated, rare (£90-120)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Coins, Banknotes and Medals of Malta formed by Bill Adams.

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Provenance:
Bt Mozelt [Vienna].

Illustration reduced. On 18 May 1565 a Turkish expedition of 130 galleys, containing over 36,000 troops, appeared off Malta and landed near Fort St Elmo. Nine thousand Knights of St John offered a heroic resistance to the invaders until the appearance of a Spanish squadron, sent across by the Viceroy of Sicily, under the command of Don Garcia de Toledo, compelled the Turks to raise the siege. On 19 September the last of the invaders left the island, leaving 30,000 dead; Jean de la Vallette lost an estimated 8,400 Knights in the three-month conflict