Spanish Armada Defeat silver commemorative jeton, 1589
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1589
This silver commemorative jeton, dated 1589, commemorates the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The obverse depicts Queen Elizabeth I seated in a car, holding a palm branch and an open prayer book, accompanied by the inscription 'TANDEM BONA CAVSA TRIVMPHAT'.
The reverse shows a tree containing a nest of fledglings fighting off a bird of prey, with the surrounding inscription 'SI NON VIRIBVS AT CAVSA POTIORES' and the text 'BELLV NECESS' near the trunk. This piece was struck in Dordrecht, Holland, by Dutch allies during the war against Spain. The jeton measures 29mm in diameter and has a weight of 5.79g. It serves as a historical numismatic record of the conflict, distinct from standard coinage, reflecting the political alliances and commemorative artistic traditions of the late 16th century.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 5.79g
- Diameter
- 29mm
- Material
- silver
Design
- Obverse
- Elizabeth I seated in car holding palm branch and prayer book
- Reverse
- Tree with fledglings in nest fighting off bird of prey
- Obverse inscription
- TANDEM BONA CAVSA TRIVMPHAT 1589
- Reverse inscription
- SI NON VIRIBVS AT CAVSA POTIORES; BELLV NECESS
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.