Betts-10
1581 Portuguese Possessions in America Transferred to Spain Medal
Obverse Text: PHILLIP • II • HISP • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • REX •
Reverse Text: NON • SVFFICIT • ORBIS
What to Look For: Image courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum
Catalog Reference
Van Loon I, 282
Composition: Silver
Size: 53.4 mm
Weight: 51.30 grams
On the obverse of Betts-10 we see a bust of Philip II facing towards the right while wearing a hat and a cloak. On the reverse, a globe sits in the lower center of the medal with a horse leaping above. The text is positioned above with a cloud placed in between SVFFICIT and ORBIS. This medal was produced from cast shells in 1581.
Below is the translation of the inscriptions.
"PHILLIP II HISP ET NOVI ORBIS REX" translates to "Philip II, King of Spain and of the New World"
"NON SVFFICIT ORBIS" translates to "One world is not enough"
Image courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum
